Relations with India top priority: David Cameron to Narendra Modi

BRISBANE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held his first meeting with British Premier David Cameron who described relations with India as top priority of the UK's foreign policy and invited the Indian leader to Britain.

The bilateral meeting took place shortly after Modi arrived here on a five-day visit to Australia to attend the G20 Summit beginning tomorrow.

At their meeting, Cameron told Modi that "relations with India are at the top of the priorities of the UK's foreign policy."

The British Premier also invited Modi to visit the UK to which the Indian Prime Minister said he would do so at the earliest, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said.

Modi told Cameron that his vision was "very inspiring" and the two countries can partner in any way they can.

The UK Premier was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Modi following his victory in the general elections in May.

Earlier, Cameron's spokesperson had said that the Brisbane meeting was set to strengthen the broad and deep relationship that UK and India have, building on a partnership of equals based on mutual respect.

The Indian community in the UK is keen to have a visit by Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate Mahatma Gandhi's statue which is being raised outside the Palace of Westminster in London's Parliament Square. The statue will stand amid monuments to other statesmen, including Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln.