London: Britain’s newly-elected Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday thanked his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi for congratulating him on his new function, saying he was “excited” about what the 2 nice democracies can obtain as they deepen their safety, defence and financial partnership.
His remark got here quickly after Prime Minister Modi spoke to new him over telephone and congratulated him on assuming cost as British Prime Minister.
“We will work together to further strengthen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. We also agreed on the importance of early conclusion of a comprehensive and balanced FTA,” Modi tweeted.
Sunak replied, “Thank you Prime Minister @NarendraModi for your kind words as I get started in my new role. The UK and India share so much. I’m excited about what our two great democracies can achieve as we deepen our security, defence and economic partnership in the months & years ahead.”
Sunak, 42, was elected Conservative Party chief on Monday, marking a really particular Diwali for the previous Chancellor of Exchequer who entered 10 Downing Street as the primary Indian-origin and likewise the youngest British Prime Minister in 210 years.
The telephonic dialog between them comes only a day forward of British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly’s go to to India on Friday.
In Mumbai, Cleverly can pay his respects to those that misplaced their lives within the terror assault on the Taj Palace Hotel in 2008 on Friday.
On Saturday, he’ll journey to New Delhi to talk on the Special Meeting of the UN Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee.
He will name on international locations to work collectively to battle on-line terrorism together with international terror recruitment campaigns and dwell streaming of assaults.
In New Delhi, the Foreign Secretary can be resulting from meet Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar to debate the most recent on the 2030 Roadmap, the landmark dedication to spice up cooperation between the UK and India over the following decade beneath a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
“Since it was launched last year, huge progress has been made, including the start of ambitious free trade negotiations, the expansion of our defence and security partnership, including through a visit to India last year by HMS Queen Elizabeth and the Carrier Strike Group (CSG), and joint exercises to enhance cyber security collaboration,” in line with the British Foreign and Commonwealth workplace right here.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly stated: “Our relationship with India is massively essential to me; because the world’s largest democracy, India is a pure companion for the UK within the Indo-Pacific.
It is an financial and tech powerhouse. Our deeper ties will enhance each our economies and assist to deal with international safety challenges.
“I look forward to working even more closely with India when it takes up the G20 Presidency in December.”
On Monday, Prime Minister Modi had congratulated Sunak and stated he regarded ahead to working carefully collectively on international points and implementing the Roadmap 2030 for bilateral relations.
Modi tweeted, “Warmest congratulations @RishiSunak! As you become UK PM, I look forward to working closely together on global issues, and implementing Roadmap 2030. Special Diwali wishes to the ‘living bridge’ of UK Indians, as we transform our historic ties into a modern partnership.”
Sunak’s imaginative and prescient for India-UK bilateral ties has gone past the chance for the UK to promote issues in India, wanting Britain to additionally “learn from India”.
India and Britain launched negotiations for the Free Trade Agreement in January with an intention to conclude talks by Diwali however the deadline was missed resulting from a scarcity of consensus on points.
The India-UK free commerce deal is more likely to get the much-needed impetus with Sunak transferring into 10 Downing Street as specialists see political stability within the UK giving momentum to negotiations.
Sunak, in his earlier function as Chancellor of the Exchequer, had expressed assist for the FTA as he noticed monumental alternatives for each international locations within the fintech and insurance sectors.
According to the specialists, political stability within the UK now would assist fast-track the negotiations for the pact, which might doubtlessly double bilateral commerce by 2030.
The whole commerce between India and the UK stood at USD 17.5 billion in 2021-22.
India has in current occasions signed commerce offers with the United Arab Emirates and Australia however talks with the UK had hit a snag over simpler entry to Indian expert staff.
Sunak’s historic milestone because the nation’s first non-white Prime Minister is being broadly celebrated as an indication of the variety of modern-day Britain.
He took over from Liz Truss simply 49 days after she defeated him within the final management race.
