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| Rajnath Singh discusses defence ties with UK PM Rishi Sunak during visit | | |  Agencies
LONDON, Jan 11: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh concluded his visit to the UK on Thursday after a "warm meeting" with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and interacting with members of the Indian Expatriates at a community reception.
Rajnath Singh called on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday evening for discussions on a wide range of issues across bilateral defence and economic ties. He also gifted a Ram Darbar statue to Rishi Sunak, Britain's first Hindu Prime Minister, during the meeting also attended by UK National Security Adviser (NSA) Sir Tim Barrow.
"Had a very warm meeting with the UK Prime Minister, Shri Rishi Sunak in London," Rajnath Singh said in a statement on social media
"I had the opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues with him. We discussed issues pertaining to defence, economic cooperation and how India and the UK could work together for strengthening a peaceful and stable global rules-based order," he said.
According to the Indian Ministry of Defence readout of the meeting, Rishi Sunak agreed with the minister on the need for the UK and India to work in tandem and expressed hope that the ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations could be brought to a successful conclusion soon.
India and the UK are currently holding the 14th round of free trade agreement negotiations to significantly enhance the annual GBP 36-billion bilateral partnership.
Rishi Sunak is said to have also underlined his keenness, and that of his government, to strengthen the defence and security pillar of the bilateral relationship, including through government backing for stronger business and technology partnerships with Indian counterpart entities.
Meanwhile, Rajnath Singh briefed Rishi Sunak about his "positive interactions" with the UK defence industry and the "new positive energy" in the bilateral defence relationship during his tour of the UK, the first by an Indian Defence Minister in 22 years.
He also met with UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and reflected on the new momentum and direction of the India-UK partnership, symbolised by intense engagements at various levels.
Rajnath Singh "outlined his goal of integrating defence industries of both countries including through supply chain integration to build resilience. He also emphasised the importance of bilateral start-up level interaction, and identification and discussion of joint projects which India and UK could implement together," the Ministry of Defence said.
David Cameron reiterated the UK government's desire to collaborate with India in the defence areas, particularly in the field of defence industrial collaboration, as one of the means of how the UK hopes to strengthen the support for a rule-based international order. |
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