LOC21:33
18:33 GMT
NEW DELHI, Oct 22 (KUNA) -- India and the UK on Friday decided to enhance cooperation in a number of areas of mutual concern amid growing global challenges.
This came amid talks between Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and his British counterpart Elizabeth Truss, who arrived in New Delhi on a three-day official visit, according to an Indian statement.
They discussed a number of issues, including trade and investments, the people-to-people relationship, health partnership, climate change, science, innovation, defence and security.
They also reviewed Roadmap 2030 launched by Prime Ministers of both the countries during the India-UK Virtual Summit held in May this year and appreciated the progress made so far.
"Both ministers welcomed the progress in delivering the Enhanced Trade Partnership announced at the Virtual Summit and underlined the need for launching FTA negotiations at the earliest, with a focus on negotiating an interim agreement that can deliver quick gains to businesses in both India and the UK," the statement said.
Migration and Mobility Partnership and the Global Innovation Partnership also came up for discussion and both the ministers committed to their early implementation.
Consular issues and maritime security would be discussed through new dialogue mechanisms, the statement said.
They also announced instituting the India-UK Strategic Futures Forum Track to promote expert deliberations on long-term strategic links between India and the UK.
Both the ministers discussed regional and global issues while pledging their commitment to promote multi-polar world and multilateralism.
"They agreed to strengthen cooperation in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific, on countering terrorism and radical extremism, and addressing emerging challenges in the cyber and space domains," the ministry said.
Deliberations between Jaishankar and Truss also touched upon Afghanistan. They stressed "the need for full, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian assistance".
They also pledged to ensure thay "Afghan territory not be used to threaten or attack any country or to shelter or train terrorists, or to plan or to finance terrorist attacks."
Truss also met Indian Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman and the Minister of Environment Bhupender Yadav.
Before leaving the country, the visiting British minister is slated to participate in business and defence engagements in Mumbai held in connection with the visit of Carrier Strike Group 21 to India.
In a related development, Jaishankar and Indian Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla met UK's Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nicholas Carter and discussed several issues including Afghanistan, developments in the Indo-Pacific and India-UK defence and security cooperation. (end)
atk