UK asks envoy to visit Gujarat; Modi says 'better late than never'

Oct 11, 2012 |

London

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In a policy shift, the UK on Wednesday announced it has asked its envoy to India to visit Gujarat and meet Narendra Modi to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest and explore opportunities for closer cooperation, prompting a jubilant Chief Minister to welcome the move as ‘better late than never’.

"I have asked the British High Commissioner in New Delhi (James Bevan) to visit Gujarat and to meet the Chief Minister and other senior figures in the state. "This will allow us to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest and to explore opportunities for closer cooperation, in line with the British Government's stated objective of improving bilateral relations with India," Britain's Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire said in a statement.

Swire, who is in-charge of India, said, "The UK has a broad range of interests in Gujarat. We want to secure justice for the families of the British nationals who were killed in 2002. We want to support human rights and good governance in the state.

"We also want to provide the best possible support to British nationals who live in, work in or visit Gujarat; and to the many Gujaratis who now make up one of the most successful and dynamic communities in the UK."

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