Republic Day 2021: UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab today confirmed that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day ceremony in January 2021. “I am pleased that PM Boris Johnson has invited PM Modi to join the UK-hosted G7 summit next year. UK Prime Minister Johnson has also accepted the very generous invitation to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations in January, which is a great honour,” UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab stated through a press conference.
External Affairs Minister of India Dr Jaishankar stated that the presence of UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the chief guest at Republic Day 2021 would be in a way symbolic of a new era, a new phase of our partnership. Johnson will be only the second British leader given that Indian independence to attend the Republic Day parade in New Delhi as Guest of Honour. Former UK prime minister John Major had visited India in 1993.
“I am absolutely delighted to be visiting India next year at the start of an exciting year for Global Britain, and look forward to delivering the quantum leap in our bilateral relationship that Prime Minister Modi and I have pledged to achieve. As a key player in the Indo-Pacific region, India is an increasingly indispensable partner for the United Kingdom as we work to boost jobs and growth, confront shared threats to our security and protect our planet,” Johnson was quoted as saying by PTI.
Raab, who is going to India, today held talks with External Affairs Minister Jaishankar. The going to foreign secretary stated that the UK and India are reinforcing partnership as a force for excellent in a altering globe. “Today Dr S Jaishankar and I agreed to work together to deliver an Enhanced Trade Partnership to unlock the huge potential for British and Indian businesses and jobs,” he stated.
In a tweet, the Indian foreign minister stated: “Productive talks with UK Foreign Secretary @DominicRaab today. Discussed possibilities in a post-COVID post-Brexit globe for a stronger India-UK partnership. Working on Roadmap 2030 to that finish.
(With inputs from PTI)