Tag - UK

“Felt Like Sachin Tendulkar, Amitabh Bachchan”: UK PM Boris Johnson on India welcome

On Friday UK PM Boris Johnson addressed a joint press meet with PM Modi in Delhi and acknowledged the amazing reception he received. He said that he felt like Sachin Tendulkar.

“And I had an amazing reception – absolutely amazing– I felt like Sachin Tendulkar – my face was about as ubiquitous everywhere as Amitabh Bachchan. I was everywhere to be seen and it was fantastic,” said PM Johnson.

Talking about the Indo-Pacific region he said, “It was great to see you (PM Modi) at the G7. But since then, the threats of autocratic coercion have grown even further and it’s therefore vital that we deepen our co-operation, including our shared interest in keeping the Indo-Pacific open and free.”

India and UK will extend the partnership in science, and said that he had “the Indian jab” in his arm.

Johnson said, “We’re extending our partnership as science superpowers, And building on the collaboration between Oxford/Astra-Zeneca and the Serum Institute, which vaccinated more than a billion people against Covid, – including me – I have the Indian jab in my arm and the power of good it did me so thanks to India.”

These partnerships form the superstructure of the Living Bridge that Narendra describes between our countries, and today that bridge is humming with goods and services and people and capital, whizzing back and forth east to west

Johnson said that the new deals between India and UK are worth £1 billion and will create more than 11,000 new jobs across the UK.

Johnson said that the next round of the talks regarding the Free Trade Agreement will begin next week. Johnson has told the negotiators to get it done by Diwali in October.

“We’ve already closed four chapters, and today we’re announcing new measures to make it easier to export UK-made medical devices to India and ensure mutual recognition of UK higher education qualifications. And as the next round of talks begins here next week, we are telling our negotiators: get it done by Diwali in October. Get it done by Diwali,” said PM Johnson.

 

 

UK PM Johnson Meets PM Modi In Delhi, Free Trade Agreement To Conclude By This Year

UK PM Boris Johnson arrived in Gujarat on Thursday for the start of his two-day visit to India. Boris Johnson met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi on Thursday as the UK looks to discuss topics from climate change to energy security to defence, the partnership of our democracies is vital as the world faces growing threats from autocratic states.

Addressing the joint press meet, PM Modi said PM Johnson has played a very important role in strengthening the relations between India and the UK and that the arrival of Prime Minister Boris Johnson here is a historic moment in itself.

“For the past several years, Prime Minister Johnson has played a very important role in strengthening the relations between India and the UK. At this time, when India is celebrating the Amrit Festival of its independence, the arrival of Prime Minister Boris Johnson here is a historic moment in itself,” said PM Modi.

Modi and Johnson also reviewed the progress made in “Roadmap 2030” which will guide the relationship between the UK and India in this decade.

“And we also launched an ambitious “Roadmap 2030” to guide our relationship in this decade. In our conversation today, we also reviewed the progress made in this roadmap, and also set some goals for the future,” Modi said.

Modi said that the Free Trade Agreement between both countries might be concluded by the end of this year.

“The teams of both the countries are working on the subject of Free Trade Agreement. Good progress is being made in the negotiations. And we have decided to do our best to conclude the FTA by the end of this year,” said Modi.

Modi also invited UK to join India’s National Hydrogen Mission to deepen the climate and energy partnership.

Modi emphasized the Global Innovation Partnership and said that it will prove to be a very important initiative between both countries. UK will also finance up to $100 million for scaling-up of “Made in India” innovations to third countries

“The conclusion of the implementation arrangements of the Global Innovation Partnership will prove to be a very important initiative between us today. This will further strengthen our development partnership with other countries,” Modi said.

“Under this, India and UK will co-finance up to $100 million for the transfer and scaling-up of “Made in India” innovations to third countries,” Modi further added.

Modi and Johnson also discussed the developments taking place at the regional and global level. They also talked about the Indo-Pacific region and India welcomed UK’s decision to join Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

“We emphasized on maintaining the Indo-Pacific region based on a free, open, inclusive and rules-based order. India welcomes UK’s decision to join Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative,” said Modi.

During the meeting both the leader reiterated the importance of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries.

 

“We stressed on dialogue and diplomacy in Ukraine for an immediate ceasefire and resolution of the problem. We also reiterated the importance of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries,” said Modi.

Talking about the Afghanistan situation Modi said that Afghan land should not be used to spread terrorism in other countries.

“We reiterated our support for a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan and for an inclusive and representative Government. It is necessary that Afghan land should not be used to spread terrorism in other countries,” said Modi.

UK PM Boris Johnson meets industrialist Gautam Adani in Ahmedabad

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson who is on a two-day tour of India, arrived in Ahmedabad on Thursday morning.

“It’s fantastic to be in India, the world’s largest democracy. I see vast possibilities for what our great nations can achieve together. Our powerhouse partnership is delivering jobs, growth and opportunity. I look forward to strengthening this partnership in the coming days,” PM Johnson tweeted after arriving in Ahmedabad.

On the first day of his tour, Johnson met Adani Group Chairman, Gautam Adani at the Adani headquarters at Shantigram on the outskirts of Ahmedabad.

“Honoured to host @BorisJohnson, the first UK PM to visit Gujarat, at Adani HQ. Delighted to support climate & sustainability agenda with focus on renewables, green H2 & new energy. Will also work with UK companies to co-create defence & aerospace technologies,” Adani wrote in his Twitter.

After the meeting, Johnson visited the Sabarmati Ashram, the place from where Gandhi led India’s freedom struggle from the British colonial rule.

“I was honoured to follow in the footsteps of millions in visiting the Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad today. As the world faces renewed conflict, Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings remind us of the power of peace in changing the course of history,” tweeted PM Johnson.

 

India is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK, says PM Boris Johnson

The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, will visit India on April 21 and 22. Regarding this matter Johnson said that he will be travelling to India this week, to deepen the partnership between the two countries. Talking about the partnership between the two countries he said that as a major economic power India is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK.

“This week I’ll be travelling to India, to deepen the long-term partnership between our countries. As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together,” tweeted Boris Johnson.

“India, as a major economic power and the world’s largest democracy, is a highly valued strategic partner for the UK in these uncertain times,” wrote Johnson.

He further said this visit will create jobs and will also help in economic growth for both the nations.

“My visit to India will deliver on the things that really matter to the people of both our nations – from job creation and economic growth, to energy security and defence,” Johnson tweeted.

 

UK PM Boris Johnson to visit India on April 21

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will pay an official visit to India from April 21-22. This will be his maiden visit to India as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, said the Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday.

According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, ​Prime Minister Johnson will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan and will hold bilateral consultations with the Prime Minister on 22 April. Besides official engagements in New Delhi, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom will also visit Gujarat on 21 April.

​“India and the United Kingdom enjoy a long and historical relationship which was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the India-UK Virtual Summit in 2021. The Prime Ministers will review implementation of the Roadmap 2030 and set their vision for further intensifying cooperation across the full spectrum of bilateral ties. They will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest,” read the statement.

 

External affairs minister Jaishankar defends India on Russian oil import

External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday defended India’s decision to import energy supplies from Russia in a conversation with his British counterpart Liz Truss at the India-UK Strategic Futures Forum.

When Truss was asked about UK’s reaction on India purchasing discounted Russian oil, she said, “India is a sovereign nation; I am not going to tell India what to do what I have said is as a member of the UK government that is signed up to the Budapest Memorandum I feel a strong responsibility on behalf of the united kingdom to take all the action we can for the people of Ukraine and that is not the same as going around and telling other countries what to do.”

Jaishankar said that in the month of March Europe has bought 15 per cent more oil and gas from Russia than it did the month before.

Jaishankar said, “I was reading a report that in the month of March Europe has bought, I think 15 per cent more oil and gas from Russia than it did the month before. If you look at the major buyers of oil and gas from Russia, I think you will find most of them in Europe.”

He added, “We ourselves get the bulk of our energy supplies from the Middle East, about 7.5 – 8 per cent oil from the US and in the past maybe less than a per cent from Russia earlier.”

He further added that it’s natural for any country to look for a good deal when the oil prices go up.

“When oil prices go up its natural for a country to go out into the market and look for what are good deals for their people but I am pretty sure if we wait two or three months and actually look who are the big buyers of Russian gas and oil I suspect the list won’t be very different than it used to be and I suspect we won’t be in the top10 in that list,” Jaishankar further added.

India And UK Conclude Second Round Of Talks For Free Trade Agreement

On Thursday 17 March 2022, the Republic of India and the United Kingdom concluded the second round of talks for an India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

A delegation of Indian officials undertook technical talks in London. The negotiations were conducted in a hybrid fashion, with some negotiators in a dedicated UK negotiations facility, and others attending virtually.

For this round of negotiations, draft treaty text was shared and discussed across most chapters that will make up the agreement.  Technical experts from both sides came together for discussions in 64 separate sessions covering 26 policy areas.

The third round of negotiations is due to be hosted by India in April 2022.