UK PM calls India 'indispensable partner', says 'delighted to be visiting' next year

After accepting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation for being Chief Guest on Republic Day, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed that he is ‘absolutely delighted’ to be visiting India. During his trip to India after meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, British Foreign Secretary on December 15 h anunced that Johnson will be coming to India in 2021 when UK will also formally leave European Union (EU). UK PM said that he is looking forward to delivering “quantum leap” in bilateral relationship between India and Britain. 

"I am absolutely delighted to be visiting India next year at start of an exciting year for Global Britain, and look forward to delivering quantum leap in our bilateral relationship that Prime Minister Modi and I have pledged to achieve," said Johnson.

Boris Johnson hailed India for becoming “increasingly indispensable partner” for UK while also being “key player” in Indo-Pacific region. Johnson also reiterated remarks me by British Foreign secretary following his bilateral meet with EAM of both nations working to ramp up jobs and growth along with confronting shared threats. Uk PM also lauded India's vaccine production ability, especially amid COVID-19 pandmeic.

"As a key player in Indo-Pacific region, India is an increasingly indispensable partner for United Kingdom as we work to boost jobs and growth, confront shared threats to our security and protect our planet," he said.

Johnson furr said, "As ‘pharmacy of world’ India supplies more than 50% of world’s vaccines, with over a billion doses of UK’s Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine being manufactured at India’s Serum Institute in Pune."

Earlier, in a joint press briefing after meet, Raab confirmed Johnson’s presence in India’s celebration on January 26, 2021, and being Republic Day Chief Guest. He also deted it as a “great hour”. Dominic Raab said, "UK PM Johnson has also accepted very generous invitation to attend India's Republic Day celebrations in January, which is a great hour.”

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UK wants to ‘deepen ecomic partnership’ with India

In joint news briefing after meeting Jaishankar, Raab said that UK is hoping to ‘deepen’ partnership with India on ecomic front. British foreign secretary relayed UK’s ‘commitment’ of building a stronger defence system as well as a security partnership with India which would furr help both nations in tackling common concerns including terrorism, privacy in Western Indian Ocean.

“We want to deepen our ecomic partnership with India...We're committed to building a stronger defence & security partnership with India, that will help us tackle shared issues related to terrorism, maritime security including piracy in Western Indian ocean,” said Raab.

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