India-UK FTA talks in process of being relaunched, both sides committed to taking it forward: MEA
New Delhi: The talks on the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the UK are being relaunched, and both sides are committed to taking it forward, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Wednesday.
While addressing a press briefing, Jaiswal said that seven rounds of talks between India and UK have been held and both sides are keen to take these negotiations forward.
When asked about India's FTA talks with UK, Randhir Jaiswal said, 'The FTA talks with UK are in the process of being relaunched and both sides remain committed to taking it forward. If my memory serves me right, think seven rounds have happened. This will be the eighth round and both sides are keen to conclude this or take these negotiations forward so that we can have an early conclusion of the FTA talks.'
India and the UK have resumed negotiations towards a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two nations, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement in March. This announcement was made by the Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and his UK counterpart Jonathan Reynolds who was in Delhi, the statement said.
During the press briefing, Jaiswal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Thailand's capital, Bangkok, on April 4. He said that Hlaing expressed gratitude to PM Modi for the assistance being provided by India to Myanmar.
Jaiswal said that PM Modi made clear the importance of the restoration of the democratic process in Myanmar through 'inclusive and credible elections.' He further said that the two leaders also discussed about ongoing development projects in Myanmar.
When asked about the meeting between Myanmar's senior general and PM Modi, Jaiswal said, 'This happened on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. Post the meeting, we had given a readout as to what transpired in the meeting. The leaders exchanged notes on India's relief assistance provided to Myanmar, as part of Operation Brahma. Senior General expressed his gratitude for the assistance being rendered by India.'
'We also made ourselves clear on the importance of early restoration of democratic process through inclusive and credible elections in Myanmar and we also put forth our views on advancing a Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led transition towards a peaceful, stable and democratic future. Now, having said that, development cooperation issues were discussed. We talked about the ongoing development projects in Myanmar and also our readiness to do more on that account to help people there and to foster our relations with the country,' he added.
India launched Operation Brahma to provide necessary support, including Search and Rescue (SAR), humanitarian aid, disaster relief and medical assistance, following the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.
A statement released by Prime Minister's Office on April 4 stated, 'PM Modi conveyed that, as the First Responder, India stands with Myanmar in this time of crisis and is ready to deploy more material assistance and resources if required.'
PM Modi underlined that there was no military solution to the conflict and stressed that enduring peace could only be achieved through an inclusive dialogue. He appreciated the support extended by Myanmar for the rescue and repatriation of Indian nationals from cyber-scam centres along the Myanmar-Thailand border.
The statement said, 'PM underlined the importance of early restoration of a democratic process through inclusive and credible elections, adding that India supported efforts aimed at fostering trust and advancing a Myanmar-owned and Myanmar-led transition towards a peaceful, stable and democratic future. Alluding to the human cost of the ongoing ethnic violence in Myanmar, PM underlined that there was no military solution to the conflict and stressed that enduring peace could only be achieved through an inclusive dialogue.'
The two leaders also discussed the ongoing India-supported infrastructure development projects in Myanmar. PM Modi underlined India's readiness to support the developmental needs of all communities in Myanmar.
© Muscat Media Group Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
5 hours ago
- Gulf Today
Modi opens ambitious rail project connecting Kashmir to rest of India
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday inaugurated one of the most ambitious railway projects ever built in India, which will connect the Kashmir Valley to the vast Indian plains by train for the first time. Dubbed by government-operated Indian Railways as one of the most challenging tracks in the world, the 272-kilometre line begins in the garrison city of Udhampur in Jammu region and runs through Jammu and Kashmir's main city of Srinagar. The line ends in Baramulla, a town near the highly militarised Line of Control. The line travels through 36 tunnels and over 943 bridges. The Indian government pegged the total project cost at around $5 billion. One of the project's highlights is a 1,315-metre-long (4,314-foot) steel and concrete bridge above the Chenab River connecting two mountains with an arch 359 metres (1,177 feet) above the water. Indian Railways compared the height to the Eiffel Tower in Paris, which stands 330 metres (1,082 feet), and said the bridge is built to last 120 years and endure extreme weather, including wind speeds up to 260kph (161 mph). Narendra Modi (C), with other dignitaries, after the inauguration ceremony of the Chenab Rail Bridge in Kashmir. AFP Modi visited the Chenab bridge with tight security, waving an Indian tri-colour flag before boarding a test train that passed through picturesque mountains and tunnels to reach an inauguration ceremony for another high-elevation bridge named Anji. After opening the unprecedented projects for the public, PM Modi addressed the large gathering and described them as the ones reflecting the new strength and power of Jammu and Kashmir. "Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway line projects, these are not just names, these are the identity of the new power of Jammu and Kashmir. It is a proclamation of the new power of India," Modi said. A Kashmiri schoolboy along with his teacher travel in Vande Bharat Express train from Srinagar after it was inaugurated by Narendra Modi on Friday. AP Modi highlighted the umpteen challenges that the engineers and workers faced in bringing this project to life and also spoke about the government's resolve and commitment in bringing prosperity to Kashmir. "This project was immensely challenging, given the difficult terrain. But, our government chose to challenge the challenges," he said. The prime minister also helped launch a pair of new trains called "Vande Bharat" that will halve the travel time between Srinagar and the town of Katra in Jammu to about three hours from the usual six to seven hours by road. Narendra Modi visits Chenab Rail Bridge during the inauguration of the Kashmir rail link. AFP Modi travelled to Kashmir on Friday for the first time since a military conflict between India and Pakistan brought the nuclear-armed neighbours to the brink of their third war over the region last month, when the countries fired missiles and drones at each other. The conflict began with a gun massacre in late April that left 26 people, mostly Hindu tourists, dead in Jammu and Kashmir. India blamed Pakistan for supporting the attackers, a charge Islamabad denied. "This is a symbol and celebration of rising India," Modi said of the Chenab Bridge which connects two mountains. A decorated Vande Bharat Express train which will run between Katra and Srinagar is parked at a station in Sangaldan after it was inaugurated by Narendra Modi. AP Modi called it "an extraordinary feat of architecture" that "will improve connectivity" by providing the first rail link from the Indian plains up to mountainous Kashmir. It is expected to halve the travel time between the town of Katra in the Hindu-majority Jammu region and Srinagar, the main city in Kashmir, to around three hours. The new route will facilitate the movement of people and goods, as well as troops, that was previously possible only via treacherous mountain roads and by air. 'VERY SPECIAL MOMENT' It was a moment of immense pride and excitement for a group of students who had an opportunity to meet PM Modi onboard the inaugural run of the Vande Bharat Express connecting Katra to Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. Narendra Modi interactsg with school children inside the Vande Bharat train during its inauguration. AFP These students, selected through various competitions, were among the first passengers of the high-speed train flagged off by the PM, and shared their overwhelming experiences. One student remarked, "He interacted with us and asked what we did to get the chance to come here. There were many competitions, like poem recitation and drawing, from which we were selected. I felt very proud after meeting our Prime Minister. He is such a famous personality, and it is very rare to meet someone like him." "It felt very special and made me feel extremely proud because he is the Prime Minister of the was in front of everyone gets the opportunity to meet him," she added. Another student from Delhi Public School (DPS) Katra said, "I never thought of meeting PM Modi in my lifetime. He is my idol, and I felt very nice and fortunate to meet him. He asked us what competitions we participated in, and we told him how we got selected. After winning these competitions, we got the opportunity to enter the train and meet the PM." Agencies
ARN News Center
20 hours ago
- ARN News Center
India's Modi says he's received invitation for G7 summit in Canada
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he looked forward to meeting his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney during the Group of Seven summit, after the latter invited him to the gathering over a phone call on Friday. India is not a part of the grouping but can be invited as a guest to its annual gathering, which will be held this year in Kananaskis in the Canadian province of Alberta, from June 15-17. "Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister (Carney)...thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this forward to our meeting at the Summit," Modi said in a post on X. The invitation suggests that both sides want to rebuild ties, which have nosedived in the last two years after Canada accused India of involvement undefined in a Sikh separatist leader's murder, and of attempting to interfere in the country's 2019 and 2021 elections. New Delhi denied both allegations. Modi also stated in his post that India and Canada would work together "with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests". India is Canada's 10th largest trading partner and Canada is the biggest exporter of pulses, including lentils, to India. Ottawa holds the rotational G7 presidency this year.
Dubai Eye
a day ago
- Dubai Eye
India's Modi says he's received invitation for G7 summit in Canada
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he looked forward to meeting his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney during the Group of Seven summit, after the latter invited him to the gathering over a phone call on Friday. India is not a part of the grouping but can be invited as a guest to its annual gathering, which will be held this year in Kananaskis in the Canadian province of Alberta, from June 15-17. "Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister (Carney)...thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this forward to our meeting at the Summit," Modi said in a post on X. The invitation suggests that both sides want to rebuild ties, which have nosedived in the last two years after Canada accused India of involvement undefined in a Sikh separatist leader's murder, and of attempting to interfere in the country's 2019 and 2021 elections. New Delhi denied both allegations. Modi also stated in his post that India and Canada would work together "with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests". India is Canada's 10th largest trading partner and Canada is the biggest exporter of pulses, including lentils, to India. Ottawa holds the rotational G7 presidency this year.
