In an effort to boost trade, investment and Defence relationship with the new dispensation in New Delhi, UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs William Hague will touch base with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a two-day visit to India from Monday.
The two sides are expected to have comprehensive discussions on enhancing trade, investment and strengthening defence and security ties. “India and the UK have a strategic partnership since 2004 which has been marked by regular high level exchanges and growing cooperation in diverse areas. The joint visit of the delegation will provide an opportunity for both sides to work towards further strengthening the Indo-UK strategic partnership,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
During the UK Governm-ent’s first engagement with the new Modi regime in India, Hague will be accompanied by UK Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne and some other senior ministers from the British government including Gregory Barker MP, Minister for Business Engagement with India and Minister of State for Climate Change and Energy; Oliver letwin, Minister for Government Policy in the Cabinet Office and Joseph Edmund Johnson, Cabinet Office Minister. While Hague will hold bilateral talks with his counterpart Sushma Swaraj Osborne will hold Economic and Financial Dialogue (EFD) with Finance and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley. Both the British Ministers will also make a joint call on Prime Minister Modi.
UK observed a diplomatic boycott of Modi for nearly a decade after 2002 riots in Gujarat. The boycott was ended in 2012 when Britain anticipated Modi’s strong chance of becoming India PM and sent British High Commissioner James Bevan called on Modi, then Gujarat Chief Minister, in Ahmedabad in 2012.