india

Updated: May 10, 2019 23:57 IST

India and the UK on Friday discussed enhanced cooperation in a wide range of areas, including maritime security, counter-terrorism and the Indo-Pacific, against the backdrop of Britain’s efforts to exit the European Union by October.

The issues figured in foreign office consultations here between foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale and Simon McDonald, permanent under secretary at the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. An instrument of ratification of the UK joining the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was formally handed over during the talks. The ISA is India’s flagship climate treaty and has brought more than 60 countries on a platform for cooperation among solar resource-rich nations.

Both sides agreed to increase collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, disaster resilience, climate change and development in third countries, said a statement from the external affairs ministry. They also decided to intensify political exchanges in the coming months.

A statement from the British high commission said the two sides shared a “common ambition for an international rules-based system” and the talks covered cooperation on cyber and maritime security, counter-terrorism and regional challenges.

The dialogue also focused on progress made since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the UK in April last year for the Commonwealth Summit, where both sides agreed on closer collaboration in trade, security and people-to-people links. McDonald said the UK-India relationship is “focused on the future: whether it be through the technology partnership, security collaboration or economic ties”.