Modi, Cameron commence bilateral talks

Modi was earlier given a ceremonial Guard of Honour in the Treasury Quadrangle on King Charles Street, London

Delegation level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his United Kingdom counterpart David Cameron commenced a short while ago at the latter's 10 Downing Street residence here.

National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, MEA spokesperson Vikas Swaroop, Secretary (West) Navtej Sarna and India's High Commissioner to the UK Rajan Mathai besides several other top officials are assisting the Prime Minister in the talks.

"I'm confident that the Indo-UK relationship will further deepen under your leadership. I hope ties between both our nations will be productive, beneficial for each other, the world and humanity," Prime Minister Modi said in his opening remarks.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was earlier given a ceremonial Guard of Honour in the Treasury Quadrangle on King Charles Street here.

British Prime Minister David Cameron and key members of his cabinet were also present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspects a guard of honour during his official welcome ceremony at Treasury Quadrangle, Kings Charles Street in London

Modi arrived here today on a three-day bilateral visit to the United Kingdom.

He was received at the Heathrow Airport by Hugo Swire who is the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Priti Patel who is Witham constituency MP, the Indian High Commissioner to UK Rajan Mathai, UK's High Commissioner to India James Bevan along with several senior officials of the British Government and military attaches of the Indian High Commission.

This is Prime Minister Modi's first visit to Britain since assuming office last year and is also the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the UK in almost a decade.