NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British colleague Boris Johnson, who is visiting India, began talks on Friday to strengthen the multifaceted connections between the two countries.

Modi received Johnson in the forecourt of the Hyderabad House before beginning the talks.
Apart from defence cooperation and renewable energy, trade and easy visas are on the agenda.

The two countries have a long and storied relationship, which was upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at last year's India-UK Virtual Summit. Trade and economy, health, research and technology, defence and security, climate change, and close cooperation on global problems are all part of the multifaceted partnership.

The British High Commission said in a statement that on Friday, UK and Indian businesses will confirm more than £1 billion in new investments and export deals in fields ranging from software engineering to health, creating around 11,000 jobs throughout the UK.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met Johnson on Friday, and the two talked on expanding and implementing the India-UK Roadmap 2030.

Johnson landed in India on Thursday, his first visit since becoming Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 2019. 

At the Rashtrapati Bhawan, where he was met by Modi, he was accorded a formal reception and a Guard of Honour on Friday morning.

UK expects to clinch Indian free trade agreement by year-end: PM Johnson

UK PM Meets Business Tycoon Gautam Adani in Ahmedabad

Boris Johnson visits Sabarmati Ashram, gets Book of Gandhi on how to live in London