'Two Nations, One Ambition...Passion for Cricket': Modi, Sunak Hold Talks to Boost India-UK Ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak held bilateral talks on Saturday on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. Both leaders discussed means to deepen linkages between the UK and India in terms of trade, security, investment, and people-to-people ties

The UK PM shared a picture of his meeting with PM Modi on his X (formerly Twitter) handle and wrote, “Two nations, one ambition. An ambition rooted in our shared values, the connection between our people and of course, our passion for cricket.”

The official X (formerly Twitter) handle of the UK Prime Minister’s Office shared pictures of the meeting with the caption “Leaders. Partners. Friends.” in Hindi.

The talks between both leaders were held after the first session of the G20 Summit. “Great to have met PM Rishi Sunak on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi. We discussed ways to deepen trade linkages and boost investment. India and the UK will keep working for a prosperous and sustainable planet,” PM Modi said after meeting Rishi Sunak.

The two leaders reflected on the progress in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation as per the India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as well as the Roadmap 2030, particularly in economy, defence and security, technology, green technology and climate change, health and mobility sectors, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release said.

Modi and Sunak “also reviewed the progress of Free Trade Agreement negotiations and expressed hope that the remaining issues could be addressed at the earliest so that a balanced, mutually beneficial and forward-looking Free Trade Agreement is concluded soon,” the MEA said.

Sunak on Friday said that India is the right nation to be the G20 President and that too at the right time. “G20 has been a huge success for India. India is the right country at the right time to be hosting this,” Sunak was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

“Feel we will have a very good couple of days of deliberations and decisions made,” Sunak further added.

The UK PM is set to visit Delhi’s Akshardham temple on Sunday, September 10.

Security has been tightened outside the temple ahead of Sunak’s visit.

“We have done all preparations…We have got to know from the Britain High Commission that the UK Prime Minister will be visiting here. We have requested to welcome him and his spouse at the main entrance ‘Mayur Dwar’…” an official from the temple said.