New Delhi: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday reiterated that Kashmir is an inalienable and integral part of India. Expressing strong concern that there was considerable misinformation about Kashmir, which he said, was purely a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, he told a high-level British delegation that ‘radicalisation and terror are global issues to which we have to find an effective strategy to combat it at various levels.’
He was interacting with the Members of British Parliament Dan Carden, Ms. Anna McMorrin, Ms Preet Gill and Ms. Sarah Champion, who called on him here. Foreign Secretary Dr. S Jaishankar was present on the occasion.
On bilateral cooperation between India and UK, the Vice President said ties had reached a new high
in the areas of economics and commerce, science and technology, defence, education, cyber policy,
counter terrorism, sharing of intelligence.
‘Our bilateral trade at just about US$ 12.19 billion has a large potential for growth. India is the 3rd largest investor in the UK and the 2nd largest international job creator in the UK,’ he pointed out.
Inviting foreign investment, he said the Indian government over the past three years had championed
the cause of ease of doing business, and added that India had just jumped an unprecedented 30 ranks
and was placed at No. 100 position in the World Bank Rankings on Ease of Doing Business.
He invited British participation, saying ‘the country’s flagship initiatives such as the Make in India,
Digital India, 100 Smart Cities programme and Housing for All by 2022 (Urban Transformation Schemes),
Digital India, Start-up India, Clean India and other programmes offer unlimited business opportunities to British companies,’ he added.
On the greenhouse gas issue, Mr Naidu said India was committed to a fair implementation of the Paris Agreement based on the principles laid down in the Convention – UNFCCC – especially equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibility. Turning the spotlight on the International Solar Alliance, launched by India in partnership with France in 2015 to develop and promote solar energy, he encouraged the UK to sign and ratify the Framework Agreement of the ISA and join the Founding Conference as a founding member early next year, an official release here said.
