New Delhi: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is on a two-day visit to India. He met PM Modi today, as the UK looks to increase its footprint in defence production in India, and new cooperation on clean & renewable energy. Boris Johnson said that India-UK defence and security alliance is for decades.
Addressing Media along with his British counterpart Boris Johnson, PM Modi said โWhile India is celebrating the โAzadi ka Amrit Mahotsavโ (celebrations on the 75th year of independence), the UK Prime Ministerโs visit is historic.โ
The two leaders were seen stressing on the progress of the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, their climate commitments at Glasgow, and the need for a โfree and openโ Indo-Pacific.
British PM appreciated tariffs being dropped by India on certain goods and commodities. He said, โWe aim to have a new Free Trade Agreement by DiwaliโฆI have urged officials to get it done by Diwali. We appreciate the tariffs being dropped by India on certain goods and commodities and in return, we too are dropping some tariffs we levy. We also look forward to the close cooperation shared between the UKโs NHS and Indiaโs health services.โ
Boris said, โThe UK is creating an India specific open general export license reducing bureaucracy and reducing delivery times for defence procurement.โ
Coming to Russia Ukraine War PM Modi said that the two leaders stressed the need for an end to the war in Ukraine and the resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy. โWe reiterated the importance of territorial integrity and sovereignty of all nations,โ he said.
Boris has announced that Britain and India have agreed to a โnew and expandedโ defence and security partnership. โThe two countries have a shared interest in keeping the Indo-Pacific open and free,โ he said.
He terms the new partnership โa decades-long commitmentโ.
โWe reiterated our support to a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan and an inclusive representative government. Itโs essential that Afghan territory is not used to spread terror in other countries,โ PM Modi said.
As an independent media platform, we do not take advertisements from governments and corporate houses. It is you, our readers, who have supported us on our journey to do honest and unbiased journalism. Please contribute, so that we can continue to do the same in future.