Indian President in wide-ranging talks with British leader

Oct 28, 2009, 18:20 GMT

London - Indian President Pratibha Patil held talks in London Wednesday with Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown aimed at strengthening the 'strategic partnership' between the two countries, the British government said.

A spokesman said the discussions focused on investment, trade ties, counter-terrorism, climate change and other international issues.

Former colonial power Britain is the biggest European investor in India and bilateral trade between the two countries was worth 12.6 billion pounds (20.7 billion dollars) in 2008, according to official British government figures.

Brown told parliament Wednesday that the visit by Patil - the first of an Indian head of state to Britain in almost 20 years - was a 'sign that the strategic relationship' between the two countries was growing.

'Our relations will grow stronger as we expand our economic, political and cultural ties,' said Brown.

Patil and her husband, Devisingh Ransingh Shekhawat are guests of Britian's Queen Elizabeth II during the three-day state visit which ends Thursday.

During a lavish banquet at Windsor Castle, near London, the Queen paid tribute to the historic ties between Britain and India.

'Britain and India have a long shared history which today is a source of great strength in building a new partnership fit for this new century,' said the monarch during the dinner Tuesday.

She added that Britons of Indian descent, who number almost two million, 'represent one of the United Kingdom's most dynamic and successful communities.'

The Queen also referred to the first anniversary next month of the Mumbai terrorist attacks, which claimed more than 170 lives and injured more than 300 people, saying that she admired the 'courage and steadfastness' shown by the Indian security forces and its people 'in the face of this great tragedy.

Patil said that ties between India and Britain were built upon 'shared values and traditions' and that there were 'numerous commonalities' between the two countries.

'We are vibrant democracies with a free press and active civil societies, we both believe in freedom, dignity and respect.'

Patil invited the British monarch to visit New Delhi next year when the Indian capital is due to host the Commonwealth Games.