PM Modi meets British Foreign Minister, French Prez's Advisor; pitches for enhancing ties

British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson and Diplomatic Advisor to French President Jacques Audibert on Wednesday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi who pitched for enhancing of ties with these countries.

During the call on by Johnson, Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of UK, Modi appreciated the progress achieved in strengthening the bilateral partnership in various sectors, especially Science and Technology, Finance, and Defence and Security, a PMO statement said.

He hoped that both sides would continue to work together to enhance these ties, the statement said. The Prime Minister noted that the Indian diaspora in UK acts as a living bridge between the two countries, and is a key driver of close people-to-people relations.

He recalled his earlier meeting with Johnson during his visit to Britain in November 2015 when the latter was the Mayor of London. Modi said the visit of British Prime Minister Theresa May to India in November 2016 had put in place the framework necessary to guide India-UK relations in the days to come, the statement said.

During the call on by Audibert, the Prime Minister said relations between India and France have expanded from the triad of Defence, Space and Civil Nuclear cooperation to encompass a broad range of sectors, especially counter-terrorism, maritime security and renewable energy.

He called for greater bilateral cooperation in Smart Cities, Urban Transport, and Infrastructure Development, the PMO said. The Prime Minister recalled his visit to France in 2015, and the visit of President Hollande as Chief Guest at the Republic Day on 2016, and said that the exchange of visits had laid the foundation for strengthening bilateral ties for years to come.

Modi also recalled the establishment of International Solar Alliance as a landmark achievement in global efforts against Climate Change, and conveyed his appreciation for French support to this initiative.