UK, India identify ways to develop stronger partnership

London, Jul 1: External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Thursday met British Secretary of State William Hague and discussed ways to further develop closer and stronger partnership.

"The two have had wide ranging discussions that covered the entire gamut of India-UK bilateral relations and other matters of mutual interest," a press release issued by the High Commission of India here said.

"They have reviewed the progress made in developing the ''Enhanced Partnership'' since the visit of Prime Minister David Cameron to India last year and identified ways to further develop closer and stronger partnership," it said.

The release did not spell out details of their talks. Hague renewed the invitation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit UK for the next bilateral Summit adding that Britain greatly looks forward to an early visit.

Yesterday, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao met Permanent Under Secretary in the British Foreign Office Simon Fraser yesterday and had a wide-ranging talks on the current priorities for the bilateral ties.

They also discussed "a wide range of foreign policy matters, including bringing long-term stability to Afghanistan, the current situation in the Middle East, UN Security Council reform, working together to support India's applications to join the four Export Control Regimes, stepping up counter-terrorism cooperation and strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation to tackle the challenges of climate change," Foreign and Commonwealth Office said.

India and the UK share a special and unique relationship, bound by shared values and ties, including the ideals of democracy, the rule of law, inclusiveness and pluralism, the statement said.

PTI