Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar opened his week-long UK visit with a visit to 10 Downing Street in London for a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Dr Jaishankar said he conveyed the “warm greetings” of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and went on to discuss “taking forward our bilateral, economic cooperation and enhancing people to people exchanges”.
“PM Starmer also shared UK’s perspective on the Ukraine conflict,” he said.
The first day of the minister’s visit also covered meetings with Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds over the progress of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, which were relaunched to boost the £41 billion bilateral trading partnership during the UK minister's recent visit to Delhi. This was followed by a meeting with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper covering cooperation on issues such as counterterrorism and people trafficking.
In a pre-visit statement, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Jaishankar’s visit will provide renewed impetus to India’s friendly ties with the UK and Ireland.
“India and the UK share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has strengthened across diverse areas including defence and security, trade and economy, health, education, people-to-people ties,” the MEA said.
The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said the UK-India partnership will strengthen further with the opening of two new Indian consulates in Belfast and Manchester, boosting regional economic ties and delivering on the growth agenda. Before opening the consulates, Dr Jaishankar will meet with Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House, Kent.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “One of my first visits as Foreign Secretary was to India because deepening our partnership for our shared growth and security is a key part of this government’s Plan for Change.
“Dr Jaishankar and I are supercharging our £41 billion trading relationship with India, after trade talks were relaunched in Delhi. It is the floor, not the ceiling of our ambitions that will benefit both our economies.
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"The opening of new Indian consulates in Belfast and Manchester demonstrate the growing links between our peoples and how we are working together to deliver growth not only in London, but right across the UK. This expansion of India's diplomatic presence will further boost our trading relationship and support the valued Indian community in the UK."
At Chevening, both Foreign Ministers will drive forward the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This will focus on fostering mutual economic growth, technological innovation, and collaboration on global challenges including climate change. They will also discuss Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, the Middle East and other global affairs.
Ministers are also set to discuss the Technology Security Initiative, launched during the Foreign Secretary’s visit to Delhi in July 2024. They will touch on the opportunities for citizens in both countries that will come from closer collaboration in sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, telecoms and critical minerals. Opportunities include more effective and affordable healthcare and more resilient supply chains, as well as greater innovation, investment and job creation.
The Indian minister’s visit will highlight the living bridge between the UK and India, including a special reception with Chevening scholars at Chevening House, celebrating India's position as home to the world's largest Chevening programme.
