US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit Uzbekistan and India from October 17 to 22 to strengthen diplomatic ties, expand economic cooperation and advance Washington’s strategic partnerships.

In Uzbekistan, Rubio will attend the C5+1 Ministerial, a diplomatic platform bringing together the US and the five Central Asian countries. The meeting will highlight how regional cooperation can promote a more peaceful and prosperous future for the US and Central Asia, according to the US Department of State.

Rubio is also scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with senior officials from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan.

A major US commercial delegation comprising more than 200 business leaders will accompany the visit, marking a new phase in economic and trade cooperation between Washington and the Central Asian region.

Following his visit to Uzbekistan, Rubio will travel to India for his second official visit to the country this year. He will meet senior government officials to strengthen the US-India strategic partnership, discuss regional and global developments, and explore opportunities to expand energy cooperation.

The secretary of state will also meet Indian business leaders to promote investment and deepen commercial ties between the two countries.

Rubio’s Central Asia visit follows the C5+1 SI Conference held in Astana on September 29. The event brought together government representatives, technology companies and experts from the US and Central Asia to discuss cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity and technology investment.