Modi hopes to conclude FTA with UK soon

New Delhi, Oct 27 (EFE).- Indian prime minister Narendra Modi spoke to his counterpart from the United Kingdom, the newly-appointed Rishi Sunak, on the phone on Thursday to discuss the signing of a Free Trade Agreement between the two nations.

During the conversation, the leaders agreed on the need to “further strengthen” strategic relations and offer an “early conclusion of a comprehensive and balanced Free Trade Agreement,” Modi said on his Twitter account.

The British foreign secretary, James Cleverly, begins a two-day visit to the Asian giant on Friday when he meets his counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, to discuss how to “strengthen” ties between the two nations, the Indian foreign office said in a statement.

Modi took the opportunity to congratulate Sunak “on assuming charge as UK PM” on Tuesday after he won an internal election to lead the British Conservative Party, which was called after former prime minister Liz Truss resigned last week.

The election of former British chancellor of the exchequer (the UK’s equivalent of finance minister) Rishi Sunak as the new leader of the Conservative Party and UK prime minister sparked a flurry of celebrations in India by politicians and ordinary citizens.

The arrival to power of Sunak, of Indian and Hindu origin, coincided with the celebration of the Diwali festival, one of the most important celebrations for Hindus in the Asian country. EFE

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