FTA In Focus During UK Foreign Secretary's Flying Delhi Visit

7/23/2024 2:45:13 PM

(MENAFN- IANS) New Delhi, July 24 (IANS) Talks on strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will feature majorly during UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy's flying visit to New Delhi on Wednesday.

In what would be the first high-profile visit from London after the formation of the Labour Party government under the leadership of British PM Keir Starmer, Lammy will not only meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Wednesday evening but is also expected to hold discussions with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and NSA Ajit Doval besides calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The 51-year-old Labour Party politician had spoken to EAM Jaishankar after assuming office earlier this month, hailing deep connections and "unique friendship" between people, business, and culture of India and the UK.

Lammy, who had also previously visited India in February this year as Shadow Foreign Secretary, is scheduled to depart Thursday morning as the key Asean Foreign Ministers' meeting kicks off in Laos, an event which will also be attended by Jaishankar.

Outlining his priorities following his appointment, the new British Foreign Secretary had said that the new Labour government would begin with a "reset" with Europe on climate and with the global South.

Starmer, the newly-elected British Prime Minister, has welcomed PM Modi's leadership on key global challenges as both leaders spoke over the phone following the results of the UK General Elections.

During a phone call on July 6, the two leaders discussed the importance of the living bridge between the UK and India, the 2030 roadmap and agreed there was a wide range of areas across defence and security, critical and emerging technology, and climate change, for the two countries to deepen cooperation on. "Discussing the Free Trade Agreement, the Prime Minister said he stood ready to conclude a deal that worked for both sides," Starmer's office stated after the conversation between the two leaders.

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