Exterior Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his spouse Akshata Murty at 10 Downing Avenue on Sunday to convey Diwali needs from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Accompanied by his spouse Kyoko Jaishankar, the minister introduced Sunak with a statue of Lord Ganesha and a cricket bat autographed by cricketer Virat Kohli.
Jaishankar took to social media to share the images of the assembly. “Delighted to call on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Diwali Day. Conveyed the best wishes of PM Narendra Modi. India and UK are actively engaged in reframing the relationship for contemporary times. Thank Mr. and Mrs. Sunak for their warm reception and gracious hospitality,” he wrote in the caption of his post on X.
Jaishankar is currently in the United Kingdom on an official visit to meet his UK counterpart, James Cleverly. His visit, which began on Saturday, will conclude on November 15. The itinerary of his visit also includes meetings with several other dignitaries.
In a recent release, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had highlighted the growing bilateral partnership between India and the UK, noting the launch of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2021.
“India and the UK share a heat and thriving relationship. The India-UK Complete Strategic Partnership was launched in 2021 together with the India-UK Roadmap 2030,” the MEA said in its release.
“The Roadmap is a dedication to a partnership that delivers for each nations. EAM’s go to will give a brand new impetus to the pleasant ties between the 2 nations,” it added.
On November 3, Prime Ministers Modi and Sunak had a telephonic conversation discussing the progress of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
Sunak also took the opportunity to congratulate Modi on the impressive performance of the Indian cricket team in the ongoing Cricket World Cup.
The conversation between the two leaders also touched upon the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Both leaders condemned the attacks by Hamas on Israel and emphasized that the terror group did not represent the Palestinian people. They also discussed the need to de-escalate tensions in the region.