British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, played host to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his wife, Kyoko Jaishankar, for a festive Diwali tea at Downing Street. Expressing his delight, Jaishankar shared the warm wishes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, emphasizing the active efforts to reshape the India-UK relationship for contemporary times.
Jaishankar expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sunak and his wife for their warm reception and gracious hospitality, marking the commencement of his five-day official visit to the UK. The visit aims to review various aspects of bilateral ties and inject new vigor into the friendly relations between the two nations.
“Delighted to call on Prime Minister @RishiSunak on #Diwali Day. Conveyed the best wishes of PM @narendramodi. India and UK are actively engaged in reframing the relationship for contemporary times,” Jaishankar posted on X.
Sharing Diwali wishes earlier, Jaishankar conveyed hopes for a joyous and prosperous festival, wishing peace, prosperity, and health for all. The minister's UK itinerary includes attendance at an event at Lord’s Cricket Ground, addressing a Diwali Reception organized by the High Commission of India in London, participating in a repatriation ceremony for ancient temple sculptures from Uttar Pradesh, and engaging in a discussion on ‘How a billion people see the world.’
During talks with his UK counterpart, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, preparations for Prime Minister Sunak’s potential visit to India in the coming months are expected to be a key agenda item. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted the growing bilateral partnership, stating that discussions between Jaishankar and Cleverly would contribute to enhancing ties.
The MEA underscored the warm and thriving relationship between India and the UK, referencing the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership launched in 2021, along with the India-UK Roadmap 2030. The roadmap, committed to delivering mutual benefits, aligns with the External Affairs Minister’s visit, which is poised to breathe new life into the friendly ties.
India and the UK have been actively negotiating a free trade agreement since January of the previous year, with a goal to significantly augment the existing £36-billion bilateral trading partnership. With 13 rounds of negotiations completed, officials are optimistic about reaching an agreement before the scheduled general elections in both countries in 2024.
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