Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral talks with his United Kingdom counterpart Boris Johnson in New Delhi today. The Prime Ministers will review implementation of the Roadmap 2030 and set their vision for further intensifying cooperation across the full spectrum of bilateral ties. They will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Mr Johnson arrived in India on a two-day visit yesterday. He was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning. Talking to the media, Boris Johnson called it a very auspicious moment in relationship and friendship between India and UK. He said, the bilateral ties have never been as good or as strong as they are today.
Mr Johnson also visited Rajghat and lay a wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar will also call on the visiting dignitary. This is his maiden visit to India as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
India and the United Kingdom enjoy a long and historical relationship that was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the India-UK Virtual Summit last year. The multi-faceted relationship spans trade and economy, health, science and technology, defence and security, climate change and close cooperation on multilateral issues. Merchandise trade between the two countries stood at 15.45 billion dollars in 2019-20 with the trade balance in favour of India. UK is the 6th largest investor in India, after Mauritius, Singapore, Netherlands, Japan, and US. The UK is among the favoured destinations for Indian students to pursue higher education. More than 50 thousand Indian students are currently studying in the UK.
