Brussels, Jan 15 (IANS) European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will visit India Monday-Tuesday and she is scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, Defence Minister A.K. Antony and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.

Ashton will co-chair the EU-India Ministerial Meeting and interact with representatives of the Indian government, EuAsiaNews reported citing a statement released by her office in Brussels Sunday.

Ahead of her visit, Ashton said the EU was “committed to strengthening the strategic partnership with India”.

“My visit comes at a time when both India and the EU are facing important challenges. I hope the visit will strengthen our political and economic ties and create opportunities for synergies in addressing regional and global challenges, including for example in the field of security,” she said.

On Monday, Ashton will co-chair the EU-India Ministerial Meeting with Krishna in Bangalore.

The discussion will prepare the ground for the 12th EU-India Summit in New Delhi Feb 10. On the agenda will be security and trade, as well as foreign policy issues.

Ashton said she will reiterate the 27-member European bloc’s commitment to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive and balanced Free Trade Agreement between the EU and India.