Samantha Power, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) who holds a Cabinet rank in the US order of precedence, is set to visit Nepal on February 5.

A statement issued by USAID on Tuesday stated that Administrator Power, during her visit in early February, will meet with civil society leaders, community groups, students, businesses, and government officials to discuss Nepal’s efforts and achievements in becoming a more democratic, prosperous, inclusive, and resilient country.

Power will be the senior-most foreign dignitary to visit Kathmandu after the formation of the Dahal-led government last month. As the USAID chief, she is also a member of the US National Security Council.

“Administrator Power will underscore the United States’ enduring, more than 75-year partnership with the government and people of Nepal,” reads the statement, “She will highlight USAID’s commitment to increasing our engagement with Nepal and its new government.”

During her visit, administrator Power will announce new efforts to build momentum to strengthen democratic gains in federalism, social inclusion, civil society, and media freedom, the statement reads.

Power’s visit comes at the heels of Nepal’s visit by the United States Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland, who wrapped up her two-day trip on Monday.

Senior government officials and diplomats, regarding the visits, have said that it should be viewed as proof of the importance the US gives to Nepal.

Two back-to-back high-level visits from the US indicate that the Biden administration wants to engage the new government in Kathmandu and ensure that the US interests are not compromised, they said.

Nuland arrived in Kathmandu on Sunday evening as part of her seven-day Asia tour during which she will also visit India, Sri Lanka and Qatar.

During her trip, Nuland held meetings with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN-UML Chairman KP Oli and Foreign Minister Bimala Rai Paudyal.