UK govt seeks to engage with Gujarat, Modi welcomes move

New Delhi: UK's Minister of State on the Foreign Office has asked the British High Commissioner to India to visit Gujarat and meet Chief Minister Narendra Modi and other senior functionaries to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest and explore opportunities for closer cooperation. Narendra Modi welcomed the move and tweeted, "I welcome UK government's move to initiate engagement and strengthening economic ties with Gujarat. God is great."

In a press release, Hugo Swire, Minister of State on the Foreign Office, said, "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."

"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 for 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," Swire said.