UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy will begin a two-day visit to India starting today in the first high-level discussion between the two sides after Keir Starmer’s Labour government came to power in the general elections. During Lammy’s visit, he will highlight the importance of the new partnership with India with a focus on economic, domestic and global security.
“I am travelling to India in my first month as Foreign Secretary because resetting our relationship with the Global South is a key part of how this government will reconnect Britain for our security and prosperity at home,” David Lammy said.
The long-pending India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will feature in the talks between David Lammy and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
“India is the emerging superpower of the 21st century, the largest country in the world with 1.4 billion people and one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Our Free Trade Agreement negotiations are the floor, not the ceiling of our ambitions to unlock our shared potential and deliver growth, from Bengaluru to Birmingham. We have shared interests in the green transition, new technologies, economic security and global security,” David Lammy said.
The UK Foreign Secretary will also hold high level meetings with climate and business leaders.
It has been learnt that David Lammy will galvanise support for accelerated action on the climate crisis with India as an indispensable partner – driving forward the clean energy transition and creating opportunities for British and Indian businesses.
He will discuss partnering on Indian-led global initiatives to build clean power access, climate resilience in the global south and small island states.
The UK Foreign Secretary is also expected to underscore the importance of the ‘Living Bridge’ between the UK and India. It represents the 1.7 million people with Indian heritage that have made their home in the UK and make an exceptional contribution to British life.
David Lammy will meet business leaders to highlight how the UK and India are working together on shared ambitions such as cutting-edge science to encourage innovation, boost trade, and improve the livelihoods of working people in both countries.
After the India trip, the UK Foreign Secretary will travel to the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Laos where
he will advance UK economic partnerships and unveil new cooperation on climate and health.
Source Agencies
