The local weather disaster, know-how, and well being are on the agenda for the UK minister for the Indo-Pacific Catherine West’s go to to India this week, and she’s going to push efforts to barter a mutually helpful free commerce settlement (FTA).
West, who started a two-day go to on Monday, will maintain conferences with senior Indian ministers and officers. Throughout a gathering on the exterior affairs ministry, West will reinforce the UK’s “dedication to a stronger partnership and the significance of the enduring hyperlinks” between the individuals of the 2 nations, the British excessive fee stated.
Local weather, know-how, well being, schooling, and growth are a part of the agenda for West’s conferences in New Delhi, the excessive fee stated. West will reiterate that the UK “stays dedicated to negotiating a mutually helpful free commerce settlement and bilateral funding treaty”, it stated.
She’s going to construct on the “ambitions for the UK-India relationship” set out by international secretary David Lammy throughout his go to in July and “drive ahead higher development for each nations”.
West stated: “I’m delighted to be visiting India for the primary time as minister for the Indo-Pacific. As one of many fastest-growing economies on this planet, India is an important accomplice.
“My go to reaffirms the UK’s dedication to fostering deeper cooperation with India and to driving ahead higher development and prosperity for each our nations.”
Throughout an schooling roundtable on the British Council, West can be briefed in regards to the “dwelling bridge” between the UK and India, representing the 1.7 million individuals within the UK with Indian heritage and connecting the 2 nations throughout tradition, schooling, meals, and sport.
“Additional deepening this cultural understanding, the minister will go to the Jama Masjid in Delhi, the place she’s going to study its historical past and structure,” the UK excessive fee stated.
West’s journey to New Delhi follows a two-day go to to Bangladesh, the place she reaffirmed the UK’s help for the interim authorities’s work to construct a extra affluent and democratic future for the nation.