NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting with his UK counterpart, the newly elected Keir Starmer, took up the issue of the Indian economic offenders whose extradition is awaited from the UK.
This was among the five separate bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders Summit in Brazil.
Though the PM or the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) did not name them, India is seeking extradition of Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi. Both have pending cases in India. The UK has to extradite the duo.
The MEA in a statement on Tuesday said, “Prime Minister (Modi) noted the importance of addressing the issue of economic offenders from India in the UK.”
Modi and Starmer also agreed on the need to make progress on issues related to migration and mobility of people between the two countries.
Modi announced the establishment of two new Consulates General of India in the UK in Belfast and Manchester. Starmer welcomed the announcement. The two leaders recognised the opportunities for further engagement between the two sides in the light of growing bilateral economic and business relations.
Modi-Starmer underlined the importance of resuming the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations at an early date and expressed confidence in the ability of the negotiating teams, to address the remaining issues to mutual satisfaction, leading to a balanced, mutually beneficial and forward looking FTA.
Modi also met French President Emmanuel Macron, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Store and Prime Minister of Portugal Luís Montenegro.
At the meet between Modi and Macron, the two leaders commended the strengthening of trade, investment, and technology ties, including in the areas of digital technology and Artificial Intelligence, as well as India France partnership on Digital Public Infrastructure.
Modi welcomed the initiative of President Macron to organize the forthcoming AI Action Summit in France.
Both leaders also exchanged views on regional and international issues, including the Indo-Pacific.
At the meeting of Modi with PM of Portugal, the two leaders noted that the year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Portugal. They agreed to jointly celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner.
With Indonesia the issue of close collaboration within the G 20 was discussed. The two called giving primacy to the concerns of the Global South. They also reviewed ongoing cooperation in multilateral and plurilateral arenas, including ASEAN.
The PM is scheduled to conduct another round of bilateral meetings with other global leaders on Tuesday at Brazil.