UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Tuesday described his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "productive" while announcing plans to relaunch bilateral trade negotiations.
"A highly productive meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Yesterday we committed to relaunching UK-India trade talks. A new trade agreement will create jobs and prosperity here in the UK and mark a step forward in our mission to deliver growth and opportunity across the country," Starmer said on X.
In the meeting that happened during the sidelines of the first day of the Rio G20 Summit, both leaders agreed to move the UK-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership forward.
According to a statement by 10 Downing Street, the partnership will pursue elevating the relation in trade and investment, security and defence, technology, climate action, health, and education.
"They also welcomed the recent launch of the Technology Security Initiative and discussed opportunities for further cooperation on defence and security," said the UK PMO.
Starmer's office also highlighted the agreement by the two leaders on the strength of cultural ties between the two countries that provides a robust foundation for further cooperation.
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Emphasizing the relaunch of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, stalled earlier this year, and expressing intent to establish a "new strategic partnership" with India, the British PM said: "A new trade deal with India will support jobs and prosperity in the UK – and represent a step forward in our mission to deliver growth and opportunity across our country," Starmer said after his meeting with PM Modi.
He elaborated Britain's focus on deepening ties in security, education, technology, and climate change alongside the trade agreement.
Prime Minister Modi echoed this by calling the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the UK "immensely important."
In his X post, PM Modi said, "In the coming years, we are eager to work closely in areas such as technology, green energy, security, innovation, and trade. We also want to strengthen cultural linkages."
He characterised the meeting as "highly productive", marking his first encounter with Starmer since the Labour leader took office in July after defeating Rishi Sunak.
Trade negotiations between India and the UK had reached a standstill in March after several years of negotiation.
Both the nations had differing priorities - India sought increased visas for students and business people, and Britain aimed to reduce tariffs on whiskey and automobiles and sought better access to India's service sector.
Since then the UK has undergone its own political change with Starmer's Labour government supplanting the Conservatives.
The renewed focus on trade negotiations signals mutual commitment to advancing economic and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
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