Rishi Sunak, Modi Discuss Trade in First Call

Britain's new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday told his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, that he "hoped" they could agree on a trade pact, Downing Street said, despite missing a Diwali deadline to seal the deal.

The two leaders held their first conversation after Sunak became the UK's third leader in two months on Tuesday following the departure of Liz Truss, reports AFP.

Sunak told Modi he was "a visual representation of the historic links between the UK and India, and intended to build on this relationship to develop ever closer ties," his office said in a readout of the call.

"The prime minister hoped the UK and India could continue to make good progress in negotiations to finalise a comprehensive free trade agreement," it added.

Downing Street noted the leaders -- set to meet in person at next month's G20 summit in Indonesia -- "also agreed to work together as two great democracies to strengthen the developing economies of the world".

It cited security, defence and the "economic partnership" as key areas for cooperation.

At the same time, London announced UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly will arrive in India on Friday for a two-day visit to meet his counterpart and "discuss strengthening the UK-India relationship".

The two countries have been negotiating a post-Brexit trade pact for 18 months, but missed a previously hoped-for deadline to conclude it by the Hindu festival of lights, Diwali, which began on October 24.

The agreement is important for Britain as it seeks alternative markets after contentiously leaving the European Union in 2020. However, talks have reportedly snagged over fears among the ruling Conservatives that it would lead to an increase in immigration.