World Economic Forum Davos 2012: UK focused on trade ties with India, says David Cameron

DAVOS: European leaders seem to be edging closer to a consensus on finding a solution to the Euro zone crisis, UK prime minister David Cameron told ET on the sidelines of a British Tea party.

"From what Ms Merkel said on Wednesday, and from my sense, our message for the rest of the world is that we seem closer to a solution," Cameron said before he dropped in to the India Adda, chatting with visiting Indian CEOs sipping Darjeeling tea and eating dhoklas.

He also said that he's expecting to host Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in London later this year, which will be the first visit by the Indian premier to the UK since Mr Cameron came to power. India was one of the first countries Cameron visited after taking over as UK prime minister. "India is growing, while Europe is not - but in Britain we are very focused on the India trade relationship," Cameron said.

Earlier, in his keynote address, David Cameron highlighted the fact that Britain is "open for business" and committed to promoting business and enterprise, despite the austerity cuts.

His focus on India came through as he skipped out of the British Tea party, an event meant to launch London's Olympics later this year, and dropped in to the India Adda for a few minutes. The UK event had no shortage of the strong India presence either - LN Mittal, his wife Usha and son Aditya attended as did top investment banker Jitesh Gadhia among others, along with UK chancellor George Osborne.

But Mick Jagger didn't make it, just as the tabloids suggested. London mayor Boris Johnson is also planning an official trip to India later this year.