PM Modi’s visit to develop India-UK relationship

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a three-day visit to Britain today. He will reach London this afternoon and start his visit by initiating talks with David Cameron. He will then address a joint press conference at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) post the bilateral talks.

"Leaving for UK. I am hopeful this visit will strengthen economic ties between India and UK & bring more investment to India. #makeinindia," he tweeted before his departure.

He will pay a brief tribute to the Mahatma Gandhi statue in the Parliament Square, followed by an address at the House of Parliament. He would also deliver a speech at the Guildhall in the financial hub of London.

David Cameron indicates initiation on talks of defence, development partnership, security, climate change and energy in India-UK.

He is also expected to visit Jaguar Land Rover PLC, a premium automaker now owned by TATA, to represent India providing jobs to British people.

It is also a personal success for Modi, as he was boycotted by Britain for a decade post the Gujarat riots. But Cameron lifted the boycott in late 2012 and engaged in talks with Modi.

The international politics of both the countries have changed in the last 12 years. Economically strapped Britain has been seeking out China and India while an economically budding India is slowly attaining a position of some merit in international settings.

His visit to the UK is the first Prime Ministerial meeting in nearly a decade. He has had the opportunity to meet Cameron at various international forums, which have led to productive results. Cameron is a good friend of India's, and we have had the privilege of welcoming him thrice during his first term as Prime Minister, said Modi on a Facebook post before he left for his three-day visit to Britain.

He would later head off to attend the G20 summit on Saturday, post inaugurating a statue of philosopher Basaveshwara and an Ambedkar memorial in London.