From Aditi Khanna

London

Ahead of his maiden UK visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said he will chart an ambitious long-term agenda along with his British counterpart David Cameron to take the bilateral strategic ties to a new level.

Expressing his “excitement” at the upcoming three-day UK tour starting November 12, Modi described the bilateral relationship as “not an ordinary one” in a special article for ‘The Sunday Times’.

“I am looking forward to my visit to the United Kingdom with anticipation and excitement. Britain is a special partner, and ours is no ordinary relationship,” he wrote.

“I see great promise and potential in our relationship ahead. Britain’s economic resurgence is impressive. Its culture of innovation in technology and services sustains its leadership in many areas,” Modi said.

Describing Britain as a “special partner”, Modi said the upcoming visit will be a celebration of the “diversity and breadth” of ties.

“Away from Westminster, the City of London and Wembley Stadium, David Cameron and I will also chart an ambitious long-term agenda to take our strategic partnership to a new level. This is a shared endeavour that our people so richly deserve and our world so clearly needs,” he wrote.

Highlighting that India-UK ties address the “aspirations of our societies and the needs of our times in a significant measure”, Modi wrote, “Britain outranks nearly every country in the world in its investment in India, and Indians invest more in Britain than in the rest of European Union combined.”

“We are creating the human resources of the future, seeking solutions to food and health security, and addressing emerging challenges such as climate change. Our security agencies are collaborating to keep our cities safe, our citizens secure and our cyber-networks protected. Our defence cooperation enhances our confidence in standing up for our values,” he said.

Talking about India’s efforts to achieve peace and stability in the Asian region, Modi said, “We seek the same future for our neighbours that we desire for India. We will be unrelenting in our efforts to achieve a stable, democratic South Asia, joined together in shared prosperity.”

Calling the Indian Ocean the “world’s lifeline”, Modi said, “We will do our part to keep the Indian Ocean secure and free for commerce. We will contribute to build a peaceful and cooperative Asia Pacific region.”

He highlighted that India was now engaging more in West Asia, not just to protect its vital interests but also in support of the region’s effort to be at peace with itself.

“And, having just hosted 54 African countries, including its 42 leaders, India is deepening its partnership for the continent’s rise to a prosperous future,” Modi wrote.

Modi arrives in London on November 12 and a lunch with Queen Elizabeth II along with a host of engagements with his British counterpart Cameron form part of his hectic schedule.

The Indian Prime Minister also stressed on his party’s win in last year’s elections and how the country’s growth rate has been performing under his leadership.

“This is also an exciting moment of optimism in a nation of 1.25 billion people. Just 18 months after a historic mandate, written in hope and change and forged by a vote of aspirations, our vision is becoming reality. India’s growth has accelerated to 7.5 per cent per year – currently the highest for a major economy in the world,” Modi wrote.

“Our economy has become stable, fiscal balance has improved and inflation has declined. We have jumped up several places in the World Bank’s ‘Ease of Doing Business’ ranking and investors from around the world are responding enthusiastically,” he highlighted.

“Our manufacturing sector is humming with activity again.

Our farms are on the path to yield more and becoming better connected to markets. Our services are becoming more efficient. Our infrastructure is now expanding at a faster rate: the daily pace of highway construction, for example, is now three times what it was two years ago,” he said.

Modi highlighted that India’s youth is getting better skilled, to power development and provide the human capital for the world.

PTI