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Agencies:

Jai shankar and British Foreign Secretary hold talks, discuss ways of expanding co-operation

New Delhi
December 15, 2020

External Affairs Minister S. Jai shankar on Tuesday held talks with British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to expand cooperation in a range of sectors such as trade, defence, education, environment and health. Raab's three day visit to India from December 14-17 comes at a time the UK is holding complex negotiations with the European Union on reaching a post Brexit trade deal.

In the wake of Brexit, the UK has been looking at ramping up trade with leading economies like India. There have been apprehensions that its separation from the European Union without a trade deal could severely cripple its financial markets and may have long term implications for its economy.

"EAM @DrSJaishankar welcomed his British counterpart UK Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab. Bilateral, Regional and International issues of mutual interest are on the agenda," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava tweeted.

It was expected that both sides will also focus on forging a 10 year road map to further strengthen overall bilateral ties.

On Monday, the Ministry of External Affairs said Raab's visit will pave the way for further strengthening of the partnership across the trade, defence, climate, migration and mobility, education and health sectors in the post COVID, post-Brexit context.

The visit is also likely to lay the ground for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's possible visit to India early next year.