EAM Jaishankar holds talks with PM Keir Starmer, ministers in UK

<p> London, Mar 4 (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street in London on Tuesday evening to convey “warm greetings” from Prime Narendra Modi.</p><p> Jaishankar said bilateral cooperation and the UK’s perspective on the Russia-Ukraine conflict were among the topics covered during his meeting with the UK PM.</p><p> “Discussed taking forward our bilateral, economic cooperation and enhancing people to people exchanges. PM Starmer also shared the UK’s perspective on the Ukraine conflict,” Jaishankar said in a social media post.</p><p> Earlier on Tuesday, the External Affairs Minister (EAM) held a series of ministerial dialogues on the first day of his six-day visit covering the UK and Ireland.</p><p> During a meeting with UK Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, the ministers discussed the progress of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.</p><p> “Discussed the progress on our FTA talks,” Jaishankar said in a post on X after his meeting with Reynolds.</p><p> India and the UK had officially relaunched the negotiations, aimed at boosting the GBP 41-billion annual bilateral trade partnership, during the UK minister’s visit to Delhi last month.</p><p> This was followed by a meeting with Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, which touched upon people-to-people ties and joint India-UK efforts to tackle extremism.</p><p> “We discussed the flow of talent, people to people exchanges, and joint efforts in tackling trafficking and extremism,” Jaishankar stated.</p><p> In a pre-visit statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the EAM’s visit will provide renewed impetus to India’s friendly ties with the UK and Ireland.</p><p> “India and the UK share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which has strengthened across diverse areas including defence and security, trade and economy, health, education, people-to-people ties,” the MEA said.</p><p> Over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday, the EAM will be holding high-level talks with his British counterpart, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, and several other dignitaries as well as members of the Indian community based in Britain.</p><p> Besides the FTA, the focus of his closed-door discussions will cover foreign policy and security issues amid the UK’s attempt at taking a diplomatic lead on finding a “lasting peace” in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.</p><p> On Wednesday evening, Jaishankar is scheduled for an in-conversation session at the Chatham House think tank in London on the topic of ‘India’s rise and role in the world.’ On Thursday, he is expected in Dublin for a meeting with his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris, and members of the Indian community in Ireland.</p><p> “India and Ireland share friendly bilateral relations based on shared democratic values, cultural ties and growing economic engagements,” the MEA stated.</p><p> On Friday, the EAM returns to the UK to inaugurate a new Consulate General of India in Belfast, Northern Ireland, before making his way to Manchester to open another new Indian Consulate in the northern England city on Saturday.</p><p> He is expected to be joined by UK Foreign Office Minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West.</p><p> A diaspora event coinciding with International Women’s Day on March 8 is expected to take place at the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester. PTI AK ZH NPK NPK</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>