Maran, Blair Discuss Future Ties

Industry minister Murasoli Maran held talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair on Tuesday in the first contact with the new government.

Maran is here as the Indian governments special envoy to meet Blair whos Labour Party scored a landslide win earlier this month.

The industry minister delivered a good will message from Indian Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral to Blair. It was an exceptional gesture which indicates the high value we place on bilateral relations with Britain, said Maran after talks with Blair.

During his three-day stay in Britain, Maran will also hold talks with his British counterpart, board of trade president Margaret Beckett. Yesterday, he was to hold talks with British foreign secretary Robin Cook.

Maran explained the United Front governments position on economic management and the new initiatives which have been taken in the foreign policy.He detailed the Gujral doctrine and how it has worked so far.

Maran, however, sounded a note of warning saying that, now that India and Pakistan are talking, the question of any third party chaperoning us is irrelevant.The industry minister also touched on the contributions of Britains Indian community and said he hoped they would, act as a bridge between the two countries as Indians take on a greater role in public life in Britain.During consultations with Beckett, Maran suggested that the Indo-British partnership which has yielded good results, should be renewed with vigour.

Maran invited both Blair and Beckett to visit India.