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In call with Modi, Sunak says he's 'visual representation' of links with India
The two leaders held their first conversation after Sunak, a practising Hindu with Punjabi roots, became the UK's third leader in two months on Tuesday following the departure of Liz Truss.
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Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak leaves 10 Downing Street in central London on October 26, 2022, for the House of Commons to take part in his first Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs). Rishi Sunak will today face off against opposition lawmakers for the first time as British prime minister, in a likely raucous parliamentary session following weeks of political turmoil.
(AFP/Justin Tallis)
B
ritain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday told his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi he "hoped" they could agree a trade pact, Downing Street said, despite missing a Diwali deadline to seal the deal.
The two leaders held their first conversation after Sunak, a practising Hindu with Punjabi roots, became the UK's third leader in two months on Tuesday following the departure of Liz Truss.
Many Indians are said to be delighting in someone with roots in their country becoming Britain's first prime minister of colour, in a milestone year for Delhi's relationship with its former colonial ruler.
Sunak told Modi he was "a visual representation of the historic links between the UK and India, and intended to build on this relationship to develop ever closer ties," his office said in a readout of the call.
"The prime minister hoped the UK and India could continue to make good progress in negotiations to finalise a comprehensive free trade agreement," it added.
Sunak's appointment to the nation's highest office this week delighted many Indians and drew appreciation from both sides of Britain's political divide as well as from US President Joe Biden, who called it a "groundbreaking milestone".
His elevation was made even sweeter for many by the fact it came on Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, and shortly after India observed seventy five years of independence from British colonial rule.
Meanwhile, Britain missed its stated deadline of Diwali this year to finalise a free trade agreement with India, a pact that aims to double bilateral trade to $100 billion by 2030.
Britain had completed the majority of sections of the agreement but would only sign off on the deal once happy that it is fair and reciprocal, trade department minister Greg Hands said on Wednesday.
Downing Street noted Sunak and Modi -- set to meet in person at next month's G20 summit in Indonesia -- "also agreed to work together as two great democracies to strengthen the developing economies of the world".
It cited security, defence and the "economic partnership" as key areas for cooperation.
At the same time, London announced UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will arrive in India on Friday for a two-day visit to meet his counterpart and "discuss strengthening the UK-India relationship".
The two countries have been negotiating a post-Brexit trade pact for 18 months, but missed a previously hoped-for deadline to conclude it by the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, which began on October 24.
The agreement is important for Britain as it seeks alternative markets after contentiously leaving the European Union in 2020. However, talks have reportedly snagged over fears among the ruling Conservatives that it would lead to an increase in immigration.
Sunak's parents were born into the Indian diaspora in east Africa, and trace their heritage back to pre-independence Punjab in northern British India.
He is married to Indian-born Akshata Murty, whose father co-founded IT giant Infosys.
India celebrated 75 years since the end of British rule in August, just weeks before becoming the world's fifth-largest economy when its GDP overtook the United Kingdom's, according to IMF figures.
