Click to play videoNew Delhi: A partnership of equals, that’s how visiting British Prime Minister Gordon Brown describes the relationship between India and Britain as he arrived in India on Sunday afternoon on a two-day visit.
His first visit since he took over last year, Brown’s welcome in Delhi was warm but the chill in the air came haunting back after British Environment Minister Phil Woolas criticised India, comparing it unfavourably with China for its record on fighting climate change.
However, shortly after landing in Delhi, Brown sought to keep the climate of talks cordial. “From Bali I am positive about the constructive role that Britain and India can play in securing a new climate change agreement,” he said.
Besides global warming, global terror is also high on his agenda, which is a first by a British premier. The focus on terror gains more importance for the two countries since the Glasgow bombings that involved Indian Kafeel Ahmed last year.
“What I would like to also see is greater co-operation between our security agencies. And I believe that we can introduce better and sophisticated security and detection systems for our ports and airports,” Brown said.
Calling for new agendas to combat the global threat of terrorism, Brown said, "We have seen the rise of non-state terrorism, the threat to civilians from conflict and genocide. It's time for new and more ambitious agendas to prevent conflict and to stabilise failed and failing nations, and to combat challenges from IRNA and North Korea.
"There is a need to send a powerful signal that the race for stocking weapons of mass destruction is over," he noted.
Brown specifically mentioned transit points as being exceptionally vulnerable to security threats and proposed ways of countering it.
"I believe that we can introduce on our ports and airports even more sophisticated security and detection systems that will enable us to prevent people who are carrying weapons or explosive materials from moving between countries," Brown stated.
The British Prime Minister also focusing on educational tie-ups between IIMs, IITs and British universities, along with ways of improving English language education.
Monday though, will be all about the language of cooperation. He meets External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and LK Advani before talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
(With inputs from Sumit Pande)
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