"Opportunity for India, UK to Infuse Fresh Momentum"
From Sweden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the UK on Tuesday, 17 April, where he will also attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), besides holding bilateral talks with his British counterpart Theresa May.
"My visit to London presents another opportunity for both countries to infuse fresh momentum to this growing bilateral engagement. I will be focusing on enhancing India-UK partnership in the areas of healthcare, innovation, digitisation, electric mobility, clean energy, and cyber security," the Prime Minister of India said.
He further added, "Under the theme of 'Living Bridge,’ I will also have the opportunity to meet people from various walks of life who have enriched the multi-faceted India-UK relationship."
Modi said he would also call on the Queen, interact briefly with CEOs of the two nations who are working on a new agenda of economic partnership, launch an Ayurveda Centre of Excellence in London, and welcome the UK into the International Solar Alliance, as its newest member.
(The Quint is now on WhatsApp. To receive handpicked stories on topics you care about, subscribe to our WhatsApp services. Just go to TheQuint.com/WhatsApp and hit Send.)
PM Modi Attends Dinner Hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin
After his visits to Sweden and UK, PM Narendra Modi briefly stopped over at Berlin, Germany, on Friday, 20 April, where attended a dinner hosted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
PM Narendra Modi with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.
(Photo: AP/PTI)
Modi said he had a "wonderful meeting" with Merkel and discussed multiple aspects relating to bilateral cooperation as well as other global issues.
The two leaders discussed ways to further strengthen India-Germany cooperation, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, adding that Modi's visit "demonstrates India's mutual desire to strengthen the strategic partnership".
Modi's meeting with Merkel comes after German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier's trip to India last month, which focused on boosting economic and strategic ties between the two countries, reported PTI.
Germany is India's largest trade partner in the European Union bloc.
Modi Holds Bilateral Talks with Hasina, 10 Others on CHOGM Sidelines
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral meetings, including his counterparts from Bangladesh, Australia and the President of Seychelles, on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London on Thursday.
Modi interacted with Sheikh Hasina as well, their first meeting since the Bangladeshi Prime Minister's visit to New Delhi last year.
However, officials have indicated that no meeting or interaction has been requested or scheduled with the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, so far.
Some of the other world leaders expected to have one-on-one deliberations with the Indian prime minister during the CHOGM include Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness.
Gambian President Adama Barrow, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the President of Seychelles Danny Faure are also on the list.
PM Modi Arrives for The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet, Queen Delivers Speech
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the Buckingham Palace to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meet. Modi was received by UK’s Prime Minister Theresa May.
Queen, the Head of the Commonwealth, opened the summit for what may be the last time.
With her speech, her Majesty declared the 2018 CHOGM open - a discussion towards a common future.
Having on so many occasions been welcomed to opening ceremonies around the Commonwealth, it is a pleasure this time to welcome you to my own home. It remains a great pleasure and honour to serve you as Head of the Commonwealth and to observe, with pride and satisfaction, that this is a flourishing network.Queen Elizabeth
Queen also made her first direct intervention into a succession plan for the Commonwealth, indicating that she would like her son and heir, Prince Charles, to take over as the Head of the 53-member organisation.
It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations – and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales will carry on the important work started by my father in 1949.
Denied Permission to Attend PM Modi's Event, Claims UK Student Group
A student group in UK has claimed that they were denied permission to attend Prime Minister Modi’s event in London on Wednesday, 18 April.
In a Facebook post, the National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU UK) has claimed that despite having confirmation, their delegates were not given tickets for ‘Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath’ where Prime Minister Modi was expected to respond to their letter on the issue safety of women in India.
Further, the group of students have alleged that their signatories were pressurised to retract ahead of the event.
A member of the group asked Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale the reason for the cancellation to which the Foreign Secretary refused to comment and thee High Commissioner advised them to wait for the Prime Minister to address, reported NDTV.