Dignitaries from 5 nations arriving Nov 1, 2

New Delhi, Oct 31: India and the United Kingdom will discuss strengthening cooperation in counter-terrorism, trade and investment and clean energy during the official visit of British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett beginning tomorrow.

The tour by the British Foreign Secretary is part of the flurry of visits to India this week by several foreign dignitaries including the Norwegian Crown Prince, the Belgian Prime Minister and Foreign Ministers of Hungary and Uganda.

While the Norwegian Crown Prince and the Ugandan Foreign Minister are already in India, the Belgian Prime Minister and the Hungarian Foreign Minister will arrive here on November two.

Discussions with these dignitaries will be dominated by cooperation in areas including trade and investment, environment and energy.

External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said that during the visit of the British Foreign Secretary, the two countries will have discussions on counter-terrorism measures, trade and investment and clean energy.

The two countries have attached very high importance to investment and movement of people and will hold delegation-level talks on November two.

Ms Margaret will also go to Hyderabad and Mumbai.

The Norwegian Crown Prince who is already in India on a six-day official visit at the invitation of Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, will have discussions on energy and trade and investment.

Cooperation in hydro-carbons, power and shipping will also figure at the discussions. How to increase bilateral trade will also be discussed.

He will meet President A P J Abdul Kalam, the Vice President, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

UNI