Zambian President Edgar Lungu is scheduled to visit India next week at the invitation of his counterpart Ram Nath Kovind.

The three-day planned visit was announced by the Zambian presidency and will be Lungu’s first to the South Asian country as president.

The two sides are expected to hold bilateral talks that will culminate into the signing of various cooperation deals.

The Zambian President will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Minister for Foreign Affairs Joseph Malanji, Minister for Commerce, Trade and Industry, Christopher Yaluma, Minister for Mines and Mineral Development Richard Musukwa, Presidential Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazweand senior government officials, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Lungu’s visit will also be the first by an African head of state since the Narendra Modi-led government took office for a second term in May.

Ahead of that visit, the Zambian leader is expected in Tanzania for the 39th Southern African Development Community Heads of State Summit.

Some southern African leaders are already in Dar es Salaam for the Summit, including Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), Danny Faure (Seychelles) and Joao Lourenco (Angola).