New Delhi, June 5: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar praised the relationship between India and Britain on Thursday, stating that both countries are well-positioned to forge a mutually beneficial partnership with a focus on the future.
During a meeting in New Delhi with UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Dr. Jaishankar emphasized the significant changes in India-UK relations. These include UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to India last October and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK in July of the previous year.
Also present at the meeting were Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, India’s High Commissioner to the UK, P. Kumaran, and other officials.
Dr. Jaishankar remarked, “Your presence today is both a confirmation of our broad strategic partnership and an opportunity to review its progress. Our relationship has evolved from a historical and perhaps cultural connection to a shared economic agenda and a high-tech highway.”
He noted, “Last year saw remarkable developments in our bilateral relations, highlighted by the reciprocal visits of Prime Ministers Modi and Starmer within just a few months. We signed the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and adopted our broad strategic partnership, along with establishing a roadmap for the defense industry.”
The External Affairs Minister stated that he and Cooper would discuss the India-UK Vision 2035 under five pillars: development, technology and innovation, defense and security, energy, and education.
He added, “We are indeed well-positioned to create a new future-oriented and mutually beneficial partnership. CETA addresses concerns shared by many countries, including ours, such as building resilient supply chains and addressing issues related to trade, energy, food, and economic security. Today’s meeting is an opportunity to discuss the India-UK Vision 2035 across all five pillars, including growth, technology and innovation, defense and security, climate and clean energy, and education.”
Regarding the progress made under the India-UK Vision 2035, Dr. Jaishankar highlighted recent significant developments, including the signing of CETA, initiatives on technological security, the adoption of the defense industry roadmap, the Climate Technology Startup Fund, the Offshore Wind Energy Task Force, and the arrival of UK universities in India, with the latest being the University of Liverpool, whose decision was announced today.
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