British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is scheduled to meet PM Narendra Modi in Delhi on Friday, asserted that he is looking forward to the visit. Speaking further on the meeting, he said, “the partnership of our democracies is vital." The two PMs today will hold in-depth talks on the UK and India's strategic defence, diplomatic and economic partnership.
Johnson arrived in Gujarat on Thursday for the start of his two-day visit to India. Later in the evening, he reached Delhi where Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar received him at the Airport.
UK PM Johnson visits India: Day 2
On Friday morning, Johnson will attend a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan and later a wreath-laying at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.
He is scheduled to hold talks with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar. On the same afternoon, the two sides will issue a press statement at around 1 pm at Hyderabad House.
Johnson will use the visit to drive progress in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations launched earlier this year as a deal with India is predicted to boost UK's total trade by up to 28 billion pounds annually by 2035 and increase incomes across the UK by up to 3 billion pounds, British High Commission statement said,
Last year, Johnson and PM Modi agreed on a UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, announcing more than 530 million pounds in investment into the UK and committing to a deeper bilateral relationship across trade, health, climate, defence and security, and connecting our people.
India was also identified as a priority relationship for the UK in the 2021 Integrated Review and was invited by the UK as a guest to last year's G7 in Carbis Bay.
British Prime Minister's visit to India beginning comes amid the rising importance of the Indo-Pacific and India's centrality in the region with the two countries set to further intensify cooperation across the full spectrum of bilateral ties.
(With inputs from agencies)
