External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, currently visiting the UK, recently met with his British counterpart David Cameron. They discussed advancing a Free Trade Agreement and forming partnerships in the areas of defense, science, and technology.
This meeting took place on Monday and involved reflection on the strength of the UK-India relationship. They also discussed the ambitious UK-India 2030 Roadmap, aiming to meet its targets. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office shared details of the meeting.
Additional topics included shared global challenges, such as the Israel-Gaza situation and the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. They also emphasized the importance of the Indo-Pacific region for global growth and prosperity.
India and the UK are currently negotiating an FTA, with discussions starting in 2022, and the 12th round of negotiations taking place in August 2023. The India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the India-UK Roadmap 2030 have been launched recently, as a testament to their commitment to the partnership.
During his visit, Jaishankar mentioned congratulating David Cameron on his appointment as the UK Foreign Secretary, and looks forward to working closely with him. This took place during a cabinet reshuffle UK PM Rishi Sunak, in which Cameron was appointed UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.
In addition to his meetings with British officials, Jaishankar also called on PM Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty. He conveyed PM Narendra Modi’s best wishes for Diwali and presented a Lord Ganesha statue and a cricket bat signed Virat Kohli.
The Foreign Affairs Minister shared details of his meeting with the UK PM, expressing delight in calling on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Diwali Day. He conveyed the warm reception and gracious hospitality he and his wife received from the Sunaks.
Overall, the article covers the recent high-level meetings and conversations between India and the UK, highlighting the key areas of discussion and signaling a strong partnership between the two countries.