Bilateral issues to be discussed with Rice

US ambassador to the UN and one of the closest confidantes of American President, Rice, who will be here "primarily on a private visit" will hold meetings with the Foreign Secretary, the National Security Advisor, and some other senior officials, official spokesperson in the MEA said.

"Rice will be in India primarily on a private visit. But since she is in India we have taken the opportunity to arrange a few official engagements for her....,"he has said.

She will also meet Indian women leaders and participate in an event focusing on child and infant survival that honours Eleanor Roosevelt and is in support of UNICEF, hosted by the US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell.

Rice, who served on the staff of the National Security Council and was the Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs during the Clinton Administration, holds the Cabinet rank under the Obama Administration, a rare distinction given to the US Ambassador to the UN.

With Secretary of State Hillary Clinton already indicating that she would leave the office by the end of the year, many in Washington identify Rice as her possible successor if Obama is re-elected in the November presidential elections.