U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry announced Monday that he plans to travel to Paris later this week to show solidarity with the people of France and speak with French officials following the deadly terrorist attacks by Islamist militants last week.

"I will be travelling there on Thursday and be there on Friday, part of Friday," Kerry told reporters during his news conference held in India, reports AFP.

Kerry said he wanted to be able "to show the connection between the United States and our oldest ally" in the wake of the attacks on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a Jewish supermarket in Paris. Seventeen people total were killed in the attacks.

"The relationship with France is not about one day or one particular moment," said the top U.S. diplomat. "It's an ongoing ... relationship that is deeply, deeply based on ... shared values especially on the commitment to the freedom of expression," he added at the conference held in Gujarat.

During his trip to Paris, Kerry is scheduled to meet with French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and pay tribute to the victims who were killed, The Associated Press reports.

"No single act of terror, no two people with a AK-47s, no hostage-taking at a grocery store is ever going to prevent those who are committed to the march for freedom to continue to march and to ultimately see all people enjoy their rights, to be able to enjoy the protections that come with that freedom," he said.

The Obama administration has received sharp criticism for not sending a senior official to join the 40 world leaders and over 1 million people who attend Sunday's rally for unity in Paris.

"I really think that this is sort of quibbling a little bit," Kerry said in response to the critics.

Kerry also noted that the U.S. ambassador to France was there, along with "many people from the (U.S.) embassy."

According to the secretary of state, both he and President Obama were "deeply engaged" with the French after the first attack and had offered intelligence assistance.

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