By IRNA,
New Delhi : India and United Kingdom on Thursday reviewed the regional security situation and developments in Afghanistan.
Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, in his opening statement at the joint press conference in New Delhi after the discussion with his visiting British counterpart, David Cameron, said: “There was agreement between us that today terrorism constitutes the single biggest threat to the region and to open and pluralistic societies like ours. We have agreed to further intensify our cooperation in the area of counter-terrorism”.
Singh said the talks were wide ranging to take the relations to a new high focusing in the areas of economy and trade, science and technology, energy, education, defence, culture and people to people contacts.
The Prime Minister said that the two countries have decided to double their trade in the next five years.
The two leaders decided to constitute India-UK CEO forum and the information group.
He said a new education initiative between the two countries is also being launched.
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister addressing the joint press conference with Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, at the end of their discussions said: “He wants to forge a very special relationship with India”.
He said that his talks with the Indian leaders has been very warm, extensive and productive.
Cameron commented that they have made much progress on enhancing bilateral cooperation in various sectors.
Earlier, the British Prime Minister, who arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday evening, participating in a panel discussion on Indo-UK trade in New Delhi on Thursday, invited the captains of Indian industry to invest in Britain and vice-versa.
He said, these kinds of decisions are sometimes difficult to take as they require taking on vested interests.
The panel discussion, jointly organized by India’s premier industry bodies, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Chamber of Indian Industry (CII) and ASSOCHAM, was also participated by Anand Sharma, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Kapil Sibal, Minister of Human Resource and Development, Montek Singh Ahluwali, Chairman, Planning Commission.
Anand Sharma stated that India is a growing economy and it is one of the largest markets in the world and surely in a time of economic gloom, would be a factor of stability through exports and investments.
He added that “we have huge demands of infrastructure and all projections indicate that we will be in a position to absorb US $ 1.7 trillion in infrastructure over the next decade.
British companies have established expertise in building world-class infrastructure and we will look forward to greater partnership, greater collaboration and assistance in this endeavour.
Meanwhile, the visiting British Prime Minister also witnessed a deal worth 500 million pounds on 57 Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer Aircraft being given to Hindustan Aeronatics Limited by the British aerospace systems in Bangalore on Wednesday.
David Cameron, who arrived in Bangalore Tuesday night, leads a very high-level delegation.
In fact, in recent memory, a delegation at this scale from the UK has not been to India.
His delegation includes a number of his Cabinet colleagues, including British Foreign Minister; Chancellor of the Exchequer; Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills; Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport; Minister of State for Universities and Science; National Security Advisor; Vice-Chancellors of a number of key universities; a number of CEOs of leading business houses in UK; senior officials; and others.
He called on the President and the Vice President.
External Affairs Minister and Leader of the Opposition also called on Prime Minister of UK.
Prime Minister Cameron visited India in October 2006 as the Leader of Opposition.