Rishi Sunak’s visit to India for the G20 summit is a “historic moment” between the UK and the Commonwealth of Nations, according to Number 10.
Downing Street said the arrival in New Delhi on Friday of the leader of the Conservative Party, the first Indian-origin British prime minister, “will serve as a powerful reminder of the living bridge that exists between our two countries”.
Mr Sunak, who will be accompanied by his wife Akshata Murthy on the trip, is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bilateral talks, with officials not ruling out the prime ministers discussing progress on the UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA). are doing.
London and New Delhi were set to have a £36 billion trade relationship in 2022/23, according to UK government figures, but Mr Sunak has been left with a country with a population of 1.4 million to finalize a trade deal that could boost the post-Brexit economy. considered eager for. Arab people.
Former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson originally aimed to meet the October 2022 deadline, amid speculation that one of the stumbling blocks in the trade deal would be to give more visas to its people to work in Britain. India is under pressure.
But Downing Street said Britain would not budge on its immigration stance to achieve a free trade deal, with no target date set by Mr Sunak for signing new trade terms.
Ahead of the visit, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “This is a trade deal focused on trade and business. Immigration is a separate issue.
“The only aspect of movement of people covered under the FTA is business mobility, which is a temporary movement of business people for specific purposes.
“I can’t go into more detail about what has been discussed but there are no plans to change our immigration policy to achieve the FTA.”
The spokesperson added that the G20 was “not specifically designed as a moment for FTAs”, with a focus on other geopolitical issues.
Leaders of the G20, which includes the European Union and leaders such as China, the US, Brazil and Russia, began holding summits after the 2008 global financial crisis, creating a top-level forum to discuss international challenges .
At the Indian summit, Mr Sunak vowed to confront Russia about the invasion of Ukraine, despite the host country keeping ties with Moscow open since the conflict began in February last year.
Rishi Sunak is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Stephen Russo/PA)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has opted not to attend the New Delhi gathering in person, but his Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to attend.
Mr Sunak’s official spokesman said there was “no set time” for the British leader and Mr Lavrov to meet.
But he said the prime minister would “use any opportunity at the sessions to remind Lavrov before him that his illegal war is causing incredible damage to Ukraine and globally”.
In response to Mr Putin’s dismantling of the Black Sea grain initiative, which allowed ships carrying grain to leave southern Ukrainian ports without fear of attack, Number 10 confirmed London would host a global food security summit in November. will host
Britain’s military and security services will also monitor the Black Sea to prevent Russia from attacking cargo ships carrying grain from Ukraine to developing countries.
During the three-day visit, Mr Sunak is due to address a keynote summit focusing on issues such as migration and the war in Ukraine, as well as international efforts to combat climate change and support for the global economy.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “Building a strong global economy is at the heart of the Prime Minister’s priorities – we cannot reduce inflation, create jobs and grow our economy without working together with other major economies.” Can increase
“That’s why Prime Minister will use this G20 summit to lead the global conversation on reducing inflation, increasing economic security and harnessing the technologies of the future.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is expected to attend the G20 (Jonathan Brady/PA)
He also plans to meet world leaders during the summit, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who have agreed a deal to re-induct Britain into the bloc’s Horizon scientific research program .
The itinerary for Mr Sunak, who is a devout Hindu, will see him visit important Indian cultural and religious sites, with a visit to a Hindu temple also planned during his stay.
Labor Party’s shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said Mr Sunak would arrive at the G20 “as a stalwart on the global stage”.
He said: “He arrived in Delhi without a UK-India trade deal, which the Tories had promised would be completed by last October.
“On climate, Sunak is randomly retreating from his government’s past promises.
“And unlike the vast majority of other world leaders, he can’t even be bothered to attend the UN General Assembly later this month.
“This G20 cannot be used only as an opportunity for personal networking and Instagram content.
“The UK needs a prime minister who will use the G20 to rebuild our credibility with key allies in the US and EU, as well as forge new partnerships on trade, climate and critical minerals with rising powers. “
