Washington, DC - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Milan, Italy, on October 16, to deliver remarks in commemoration of World Food Day and visit the USA Pavilion at Milan EXPO 2015. While in Milan, the Secretary will also meet with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni to discuss the bilateral relationship, as well as global and regional issues.

Washington, DC - Ambassador Richard Olson will succeed Dan Feldman, who concluded his tenure September 18, as U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan (SRAP). Ambassador Olson will assume his responsibilities as SRAP on November 17, after concluding his service as the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan. As were his predecessors, Ambassador Olson will be responsible for developing and implementing policies and programs that support U.S. national security interests in promoting stability and increasing prosperity in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Washington, DC - Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Special Envoy and Coordinator for Threat Reduction Programs, will be in Freetown, Sierra Leone on October 15 – 16, 2015 to attend a meeting hosted by the African Society for Laboratory Safety and the World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa (WHO/AFRO).

Washington, DC - U.S. and Israeli officials convened in Washington for the 30th anniversary session of the U.S. - Israel Joint Economic Development Group (JEDG), the annual senior-level economic policy dialogue between the two countries. Participants recognized the remarkable progress in the bilateral economic relationship over the past three decades and pledged to continue expanding and deepening policy coordination and cooperation across a broad range of sectors.

Washington, DC - The United States commends all sides for their ongoing efforts to bring an end to the longest-running civil conflict in the world. The signing of the text of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) by the government and eight ethnic armed groups is a critical first step in a long process of building a sustainable and just peace in Burma.

Beijing, China - The U.S.-China Legal Experts Dialogue will take place in Beijing, China, October 15 - 16, 2015. Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Tom Malinowski and Principal Deputy Legal Adviser Mary McLeod will lead the U.S. delegation.