UK foreign secretary David Lammy met the prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, in New Delhi on Wednesday and said that the country was "extremely serious" about an enlarged multifaceted partnership with India.
A pleasure to meet UK FS @DavidLammy Appreciate the priority accorded by PM @Keir_Starmer to broaden and deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Remain committed to elevating the ties. Welcome the bilateral Technology Security Initiative and the desire to conclude a mutually beneficial FTA. PM Modi wrote on X after the meeting.
During his inaugural month as Foreign Secretary, Lammy called India the "emerging superpower of the 21st century," given that it is the largest country in the world with 1.4 billion people and has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
"Honour to meet PM @NarendraModi. There is a unique living bridge between the UK and India that enriches both our countries. We're working together to accelerate climate action while creating opportunities for British and Indian businesses," he wrote in his reply to the post of PM Modi on the social media platform on Wednesday evening.
Lammy also called on External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to discuss strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-UK Free Trade Agreement.
This is the first high-level interaction from London following the assumption of office by the Labour Party government headed by British PM Keir Starmer early this month.
"Our Free Trade Agreement negotiations is the floor not the ceiling of our ambitions to unlock our shared potential and deliver growth, from Bengaluru to Birmingham. We have shared interests on the green transition, new technologies, economic security and global security," the UK Foreign Secretary said ahead of his visit to the Indian capital.
He added that this Living Bridge between the UK and India symbolized 1.7 million people of Indian heritage who played important roles in British society.
Early in the day, Lammy had a meeting with business leaders to discuss joint working in transformative science to drive innovation, growth in trade, and better lives in both countries.
Under the leadership of Keir Starmer, the government continues to remain committed to harnessing all that the UK-India partnership can achieve in its full potential benefit for populations not just in both countries but in the wider global community as well.
Lammy is scheduled to leave for Laos on Thursday to attend the ASEAN foreign ministers' meeting. He will join EAM Jaishankar at the meeting.
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