UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s visit to India next week will focus on “things that really matter to the people of our two countries – from job creation and economic growth to energy security and defence”.
Johnson took to Twitter to announce his official visit, “I will be visiting India this week to deepen the long-standing partnership between our countries. As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states So it is important that democracy and friends stay together.”
He added that “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”.
This week I will travel to India to deepen the long-standing partnership between our countries. As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is important that democracy and friends stay together. 1/3 pic.twitter.com/Dw1yZQq6UG
— boris johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 17, 2022
UK Prime Minister’s visit thus Successfully completing four of the 26 chapters in the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Johnson are expected to take stock of the talks and mandate a timeline for a possible conclusion of the process, which was initially scheduled for the end of this year.
According to officials close to the discussions, significant progress has also been made in the remaining 22 chapters of the FTA at the end of the first two rounds of official talks, with the third round of talks scheduled for later this month.
The Russia-Ukraine conflict is likely to prevail during the meeting, but officials had previously reported that other regional matters such as the situation in Afghanistan and the UK’s Indo-Pacific leanings would be high on the agenda for the bilateral visit.
The focus of Johnson’s visit to India is expected to be on April 21 and 22, when bilateral discussions and interactions with Indian business leaders are to be held.
Johnson will also use the visit to advance progress in free trade agreement talks launched earlier this year and increase the country’s total trade to £28 billion annually by 2035 and wages across the UK to £3 billion. Will increase
(with PTI inputs)
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