Rishi Sunak Praises PM Modi’s Vision for India: ‘Always Exciting to Hear'

Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "friend," emphasizing that it is "always exciting" to hear Modi’s vision for India.

Sunak and his family met PM Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday evening, engaging in an in-depth discussion on various topics.

PM Modi hailed Sunak as a "great friend of India" who is dedicated to making India-UK ties stronger. Posting on X, Modi said, "It was a pleasure to meet former UK PM, Mr. Rishi Sunak and his family! We had a great conversation on many topics. Mr. Sunak is a great friend of India and is keen on even closer India-UK ties."

Responding to Modi's tweet, Sunak thanked him for the warm welcome and reinforced the significance of robust India-UK relations. "Great to catch up with my friend Narendra Modi. Thank you for welcoming my family so warmly, too! Always thrilling to hear your vision for India, and so vital the UK-India relationship continues to get stronger," he posted on X.

Born to Indian parents with Punjabi roots, Sunak became the first Indian-origin UK Prime Minister between 2022 and 2024. During his time in office, he promoted enhanced economic, security, and scientific links between India and the UK, with leading partnerships in finance, technology, health, and education. His work also led to the FinTech Bridge between London and Mumbai.

Following Sunak's Conservative Party's defeat in the UK general election in July 2024, PM Modi recognized his role in India-UK ties. "Thank you, Rishi Sunak, for your exceptional leadership of the UK and your engaged contribution to strengthening bonds between India and the UK during your time as prime minister. Best wishes to you and your family for the future," Modi tweeted on X on July 5, 2024.

Sunak had also earlier congratulated PM Modi on the third consecutive electoral victory for BJP-led NDA, renewing that India and the UK enjoyed "the closest of friendships" which would go from strength to strength.

While serving in office, Sunak, in May 2024, also acknowledged the rise of India as a super-global economic powerhouse by declaring that economies that were fast emerging globally like India, Indonesia, and Nigeria were restructuring the world of finance.