Modi-May bilateral meets ahead of CHOGM in UK

London, April 15 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will arrive here on a four-day visit to the UK on Tuesday, is the only head of government to be offered bilateral meetings ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), officials said.

In what has been categorised as an “unprecedented” welcome, Modi will hold not just one, but two meetings with his British counterpart Theresa May on Wednesday before they begin formal deliberations as part of the multilateral Commonwealth summit on Thursday.

PM Modi, who arrives in the UK from Sweden on Tuesday night, is also among the three senior world leaders attending CHOGM to be invited for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II on Wednesday evening, they said. Modi’s royal welcome will include a special event hosted by Prince Charles, during which the heir to the British throne will drive up in a Tata Motors’ first-ever electric Jaguar to symbolise the India-UK technical collaboration.

“The welcome being accorded to the Indian PM reflects the importance the UK attaches to the visit and shows the mature level of India-UK ties,” an official said.

The bilateral leg of the UK tour begins with Modi’s talks with Theresa May at 10 Downing Street on Wednesday morning, during which both leaders are expected to discuss a wide range of issues, including separatism, cross-border terrorism, visas and immigration.

Following his meeting with May, Modi will head to the Science Museum in London to visit the ‘5000 Years of Science and Innovation’exhibition. This will be followed by some events, including the launch of an Ayurvedic Centre of Excellence.  

The India-UK technological partnership will be the centre feature of Modi’s second meeting with May on Wednesday at the Francis Crick Institute in London, where a new India-UK Technical Alliance is expected to be among a series of announcements.  Modi will then head for his audience with the Queen at Buckingham Palace before the ‘Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath’ diaspora event to be telecast live from an as-yet undisclosed iconic central London venue on Wednesday evening. 

At the end of the telecast, the PM will join Heads of Government from 52 other nations at a dinner hosted by May to mark the launch of CHOGM. This will be followed by official deliberations between the leaders on Thursday before they head to Windsor for the CHOGM retreat. Several UK-based Kashmiri and Sikh groups are likely to protest against Modi's visit. — PTI

Modi to meet German Chancellor

PM Narendra Modi will meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel during a stopover in Berlin on April 20 after concluding his visits to Sweden and the UK, the MEA said. It said Modi would make the stopover in Berlin following a suggestion by Merkel.  Both leaders will exchange views on bilateral, regional and global issues.

‘Take on key role in Commonwealth’

India’s engagement with multilateral bodies has been increasing and the Commonwealth is no different. There is a desire to play a greater leadership role in the international arena and the UK wants India to take on a more important role. Dinesh Patnaik, Deputy High Commissioner of India