LONDON, April 16 (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will try to leave his domestic problems behind when he visits India this week on a trip to strengthen ties between the two countries, which have not been seen face to face. to the response to the crisis in Ukraine.
Johnson will leave for India on Thursday calling for his resignation to ring in his ears after he was fined for violating his own rules for blocking COVID-19 by attending his birthday party on Downing Street in June 2020. Read more
Parliament is returning from its Easter holiday on Tuesday, and Johnson said he would “set a record” for meetings at his office. Earlier, he told lawmakers that there were no parties and instructions were always followed.
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In a statement released late Saturday, Johnson’s office said the British leader would use his trip to India to deepen relations, including in-depth talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Maud on the two nations’ “strategic defense, diplomatic and economic partnership”. .
He will also push for progress in negotiations on a free trade agreement that Britain hopes to achieve as part of its post-Brexit strategy. His office said such a deal was expected to increase Britain’s total trade by up to £ 28 billion ($ 36.5 billion) a year by 2035.
But the visit will be overshadowed in part by differences over the conflict in Ukraine.
Western allies have called on India, which imports weapons from Russia, to harsherly condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin, and US President Joe Biden told Modi earlier this week that buying more oil from Russia was not in India’s interest. Read more
British Trade Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan also said last month that Britain was very disappointed with India’s position. However, Johnson’s office did not directly mention the conflict, although a source said Ukraine was expected to be discussed “among other geopolitical issues”.
Johnson said India, as a major economic power, is a highly valued strategic partner.
“As we face threats to our peace and prosperity from autocratic states, it is vital that democracies and friends stick together,” he said in a statement. Last year, he was forced to cancel a planned trip to India due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Last May, the two countries announced a partnership involving more than £ 530 million in Indian investment in the UK, and Downing Street said Johnson was expected to announce additional major investments and new co-operation in cutting-edge science, health and technology. Read more
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Report by Michael Holden; edited by Clelia Oziel
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