NEW DELHI: India’s Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will embark on a two-day visit to the United Kingdom on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs informed.
During his visit, the Foreign Secretary will meet with his counterparts and conduct a detailed review of bilateral relations with a focus on the implementation of Roadmap 2030, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
“Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will visit the UK on July 23-24. During his visit, he will meet with his counterparts and conduct a detailed review of bilateral relations with a focus on the implementation of Roadmap 2030. He will also discuss regional, global issues,” he said during a press conference here.
“Both the countries adopted an ambitious project 2030 to elevate bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Foreign Secretary will meet his counterparts to conduct a detailed review of bilateral relation between the countries,” Bagchi said.
During the conference, the MEA spokesperson also informed about countries easing travel restrictions for India.
“We have been taking up with foreign countries the need to ease travel restrictions of Indians. We believe this easing will be an important step, Bagchi said.
“During the visit, the foreign secretary will meet with his counterparts and conduct a detailed review of bilateral relations with particular focus on the implementation of the 2030 Roadmap,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said.
Roadmap 2030 for India-UK future relations was launched during the virtual summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his English counterpart Boris Johnson in May. The partnership agreement envisions “revitalised and dynamic connections” over the next decade between the two countries in the spheres of trade, investment, technology, climate action, and health. Moreover, the plan aims to boost India-UK defence and security cooperation in the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific regions.
Harsh Vardhan Shringla will be conducting a detailed review of the bilateral ties between India and the UK with a focus on this 10-year roadmap, the external affairs ministry said. It is understood that the evolving situation in Afghanistan is also likely to figure in Shringla’s engagements in London.
“He will also discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest,” MEA spokesperson Bagchi said while speaking of Shringla’s upcoming visit to the UK.
India and the UK recently conducted a joint drill for over three days in the Bay of Bengal as part of efforts to enhance interoperability and naval cooperation. Britain’s largest warship, the 65,000-tonne aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, and its strike task group conducted complex maritime exercises with the Indian Navy as part of the country’s moves to enhance its profile in the Indo-Pacific and to foster defence ties with nations across the region.