Boris Johnson accepts Narendra Modi's invite to India

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been invited as a guest to visit India months after his appearance at India's Republic Day celebrations was cancelled owing to the rise in Covid-19 cases in the country. The invitation was extended to Johnson by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the COP26 meeting in Glasgow yesterday revealed Indian foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

The leaders talked about a host of subjects at the summit, including bilateral cooperation to mitigate climate change. The talks also included discussions on ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in sectors like green hydrogen, renewables and clean technology, economy, and defence. The meeting between Modi and Boris Johnson at the COP26 summit in Glasgow was the first in-person interaction between the two leaders ever since the British premier's visit to India was cancelled twice.

"Both governments remain committed to the implementation of the Roadmap, within prescribed timelines," said India's high commissioner to the UK, Gaitri Issar Kumar, ahead of the prime ministerial talks. "Accordingly, we are looking to launch negotiations in November 2021 for an Interim Agreement to be signed in March 2022 and eventually a comprehensive agreement, if all goes according to schedule, by November 2022."

The Roadmap 2030 Initiative was announced at the India-UK Virtual Summit in May this year and focuses on trade, investment and technological collaboration as well as strengthening bilateral ties between the countries.

The COP26 summit drew many eyes as PM Johnson announced that it may well be one of the last attempts to finalise solid progress on climate change initiatives in light of the 'red alert' issued by scientists on global warming and associated destructive environmental changes. India made the announcement that it would go carbon-neutral by 2070 at the summit.