PM holds talks with Cameron, Hollande on terror, UNSC reforms

The leaders talks on continued co-operation on intelligence and cyber security

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held separate bilateral meetings with his British counterpart David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande during which talks were held on key issues like terrorism, UNSC reforms and climate change.

Modi held the bilaterals soon after he arrived from his weekend trip to the Silicon Valley where he met several technology leaders, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Google's newly-appointed Indian-origin CEO Sundar Pichai.

Modi's first engagement of the day after his arrival here was with Cameron.

The two leaders discussed bilateral and global issues such as terrorism, UN Security Council reforms and climate change.

During the meeting, Cameron said he was greatly looking forward to the Prime Minister's visit to the UK in November.

"There was a discussion on the continued co-operation on intelligence and cyber security," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said while briefing reporters.

Prime Minister also invited Britain to be an active partner in 'Make in India' programme.

During their talks, Cameron joked with Modi that, "Very few leaders can fill the Wembley Stadium," where the Indian community in the UK is planning to host an Olympic-style reception for the Indian Premier.

In his second engagement of the day, Modi met Hollande.

UNSC reforms, terrorism, the threat posed by Islamic State and the upcoming Paris summit on climate change were among the issues discussed.

In the Modi-Hollande meeting, there was a discussion on the Bilateral Investment Treaty pending with EU for which 15 rounds of talks have been held but the process is now suspended after a row erupted after an EU ban on 700 Indian pharmaceutical products following which New Delhi cancelled talks on the free trade accord.

The Prime Minister said irritants over the BIT should be resolved as soon as possible, Swarup said.

The two sides also discussed India's proposed purchase of 36 French Rafale jets, the talks for which are on.

Both sides expressed total satisfaction with the way the talks were progressing, Swarup said.

During Modi's bilateral with Hollande, they had a surprise visitor in Bill Gates, who was not present at the meeting Modi had with technology leaders in San Jose over the weekend.

Swarup said Gates dropped by to meet the Prime Minister.