Your Excellency, Prime Minister Boris Johnson,
Distinguished delegates,
Our friends from the media,
Namaskar!
First of all, I extend a warm welcome to Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his delegation to India.
This may be his first visit to India as Prime Minister, but as an old friend of India, he knows and understands India very well. For the past several years, Prime Minister Johnson has played a very important role in strengthening the relations between India and the UK.
At the time, when India is celebrating the Amrit Mahotsav of its independence, Prime Minister Boris Johnson's visit is a historic moment in itself. And yesterday, the whole of India saw that you started your visit to India by paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Sabarmati Ashram.
Friends,
Last year, we established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. And to give direction to our relationship in the present decade we had also launched an ambitious ‘Roadmap 2030’. In our conversation today, we also reviewed the progress made in this roadmap, and set some goals for the future.
Teams of both countries are working on the subject of Free Trade Agreement. Good progress is being made in the negotiations. And we have decided to make full efforts towards the conclusion of the FTA by the end of this year. In the last few months, India has concluded Free Trade Agreements with UAE and Australia. At the same pace, with the same commitment, we would like to move forward on the FTA with the UK as well.
We have also agreed to enhance cooperation in the defence sector. We welcome the UK's support for ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ in all sectors of manufacturing, technology, design and development in the defence sector.
Friends,
We also had discussions on the comprehensive reforms going on in India, our infrastructure modernization plan and the National Infrastructure Pipeline. We welcome the increasing investment in India by UK companies. And, a good example of this we got to see yesterday at Halol in Gujarat.
1.6 million people of Indian origin living in the UK are making positive contributions to the society and every sector of the economy. We are proud of their achievements. And we want to strengthen this living bridge further. Prime Minister Johnson has personally contributed a lot in this direction. I congratulate him for this.
Friends,
We expressed our commitment to fulfil the resolutions taken at the COP-26 held in Glasgow. Today we decided to further deepen our climate and energy partnership. We invite the UK to join India's National Hydrogen Mission. And I sincerely welcome the establishment of the Strategic Tech Dialogue between us.
Friends,
Today, the conclusion of the implementation arrangements of the Global Innovation Partnership between us will prove to be a very important initiative. This will further strengthen our development partnership with other countries. Under this, India and the UK will co-finance up to $100 million for transfer and scaling-up of "Made in India" innovations to third countries. These will also help in achieving sustainable development goals, and in efforts to tackle climate change. This will prove to be very useful for our start-ups and MSME sector in exploring new markets, and in making their innovations global.
Friends,
We also discussed the many developments taking place at the regional and global level. We emphasized on having an Indo-Pacific region which is based on a free, open, inclusive and rules-based order. India welcomes the UK's decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
We stressed on dialogue and diplomacy for an immediate ceasefire and resolution of the problem in Ukraine. We also reiterated the importance of respect for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of all countries.
We reiterated our support for a peaceful, stable and secure Afghanistan having an inclusive and representative government. It is essential that Afghan territory must not be used to spread terrorism in other countries.
Excellency,
You have always made special efforts to strengthen the relationship between India and the UK. For this we commend you.
Once again, a warm welcome to you and your delegation to India.
Thank you very much!
पिछले कई वर्षों से भारत और UK के संबंधों को मजबूत करने में प्रधानमंत्री जॉनसन की बहुत महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका रही है।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2022
इस समय, जब भारत अपनी आज़ादी का अमृत महोत्सव मना रहा है, प्रधानमंत्री बोरिस जॉनसन का यहाँ आना, अपने आप में एक ऐतिहासिक पल है: PM @narendramodi
और इस दशक में अपने संबंधों को दिशा देने के लिए हमने एक महत्वाकांक्षी “रोडमैप 2030” भी लॉन्च किया था।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2022
आज की हमारी बातचीत में हमने इस रोडमैप में हुई प्रगति को review भी किया, और आगामी समय के लिए कुछ लक्ष्य भी तय किए: PM @narendramodi
पिछले साल हमने दोनों देशों के बीच Comprehensive Strategic Partnership की स्थापना की थी: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2022
Free Trade Agreement के विषय पर दोनों देशों की teams काम कर रही हैं। बातचीत में अच्छी प्रगति हो रही है।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2022
और हमने इस साल के अंत तक FTA के समापन की दिशा में पूरा प्रयास करने का निर्णय लिया है: PM @narendramodi
भारत में चल रहे व्यापक reforms, हमारे infrastructure modernization plan और National Infrastructure Pipeline के बारे में भी हमने चर्चा की।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2022
हम UK की कंपनियों द्वारा भारत में बढ़ते निवेश का स्वागत करते हैं।
और इसका एक उत्तम उदाहरण हमें कल गुजरात में हालोल में देखने को मिला: PM
आज हमने अपनी climate और energy पार्टनरशिप को और अधिक गहन करने का निर्णय लिया।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2022
हम UK को भारत के National Hydrogen Mission में शामिल होने के लिए आमंत्रित करते हैं: PM @narendramodi
इसके तहत तीसरे देशों में “Made in India” innovations के transfer और scaling-up के लिए भारत और UK 100 मिलियन डॉलर तक co-finance करेंगे: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2022
आज हमारे बीच Global Innovation Partnership के implementation arrangements का समापन एक बहुत महत्त्वपूर्ण पहल साबित होगी।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2022
यह अन्य देशों के साथ हमारी विकास साझेदारी को और मजबूती प्रदान करेगा: PM @narendramodi
हमने क्षेत्रीय और वैश्विक स्तर पर हो रहे अनेक developments पर भी चर्चा की।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2022
एक free, open, inclusive and rules-based order पर आधारित Indo-Pacific क्षेत्र बनाए रखने पर हमने जोर दिया।
Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative से जुड़ने के UK के निर्णय का भारत स्वागत करता है: PM @narendramodi
हमने एक peaceful, stable और secure Afghanistan और एक inclusive और representative Government के लिए अपना समर्थन दोहराया।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2022
यह आवश्यक है कि अफगान भूमि का प्रयोग अन्य देशों में आतंकवाद फैलाने के लिए नहीं होना चाहिए: PM @narendramodi
हमने यूक्रेन में तुरंत युद्धविराम और समस्या के समाधान के लिए डायलॉग और डिप्लोमेसी पर बल दिया।
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 22, 2022
हमने सभी देशों की क्षेत्रीय अखंडता और संप्रभुता के सम्मान का महत्त्व भी दोहराया: PM @narendramodi
