New Delhi: Ahead of her visit here, British Prime Minister Theresa May today called up her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during which they agreed that there is substantial scope for further strengthening cooperation in a range of sectors, including defence and security.

During the telephonic call, the two Prime Ministers exchanged Diwali greetings, the PMO said.

“Both leaders agreed that there is substantial scope for further strengthening bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors, including Science and Technology, Finance, Trade and Investment, and Defence and Security,” it added.

Modi told May that he is looking forward to welcoming her next week, which will be her first substantive bilateral visit outside Europe.

During May’s visit beginning on November 6, India is likely to raise its concerns over problems being faced by Indian students in the UK due to visa curbs.

In their talks, the two Prime Ministers are expected to deliberate on impact of Brexit on the bilateral ties and ways to boost trade and investment, besides expanding cooperation in some other key areas.

“We expect mobility issues to be raised during the visit,” said External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup when asked whether the issue of Indian students will be taken up during the talks.

“Yes, it is true that in the last 5 years or so, the number of Indian students enrolling in UK Universities have gone down by almost 50 per cent; from around 40,000 to about 20,000 now. This has happened because of restrictions on Post-Study stay in the UK,” said Swarup.

He said Indian students and people-to-people relations are important pillars of India-UK ties and that India has raised its concerns already with UK on the difficulties being faced by Indian students there.

‘May’s India visit to give new opportunity to strengthen ties’

From H S Rao

London:British Prime Minister Theresa May’s upcoming visit to India will offer a new opportunity to further strengthen the “already strong” bilateral ties and promote trade and investment, Chancellor of Exchequer Philip Hammond has said.

“As we prepare for the visit of Prime Minister (May) to India, Britain-India relations are already strong, with (Narendra) Modi as Prime Minister giving new opportunities for further strengthening these relations,” Hammond, the Special Guest at the Diwali reception organised by the Hinduja family, said here yesterday.

“In this NRIs can play the role of more than a bridge.

They can help promote trade and investment and growing cultural relations,” he said.

It was no co-incidence that this is her first visit outside the European continent,” Hammond said, adding that the meeting between the prime ministers of the world’s oldest and largest democracies assumes importance.

May, 60, will be in India between November 6 and 8 on the invitation of Modi. It will be her first bilateral visit outside Europe during which she will hold talks with Modi and review all aspects of the India-UK strategic partnership post- Brexit.

He also read out May’s letter to G P Hinduja, Co-Chairman of the Hinduja Group, expressing her Diwali wishes.

In the message, May said she would be proud to “highlight the achievements of British-Indians next month when I make my first official visit to India as Prime Minister at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, celebrating the relations between our countries and our shared ambitions for the future”.

G P Hinduja hoped May’s discussions with Modi would give a further boost to Indo-British bilateral trade and investment.

Describing NRIs as “Natural Resources of India”, Hinduja said “We can really be a good bridge to do better business and be a great help to enhance ties between the two countries”.

He said that “because of the current uncertainties (following the Brexit vote), many Non-Doms (Non-Domicile Business leaders) are disappearing”.

In her introductory remarks, Baroness Sandy Varma, referring to May’s visit, said “the Prime Minister wants to ensure that the relationship between the two countries is further cemented – business relations and personal relations”.

PTI