Cameron wants Britain-India ties to move to next level


Bangalore, July 28 (IANS) David Cameron, on his first visit to India as Britain's prime minister, said Wednesday that he wants to take ties with India to a new level.

"I'm a new prime minister. I lead a new coalition government. And we're making a new start for Britain and its relationships around the world," he said in a 30-minute special lecture to techies and business leaders at IT major Infosys Technologies here.

"There are partnerships we want to create, friendships we want to elevate, dialogues we want to extend.

"So I come here with a very clear purpose: to show what this new start means for our two countries," he said.

Cameron noted that this was his third visit to India. "I came once before I was a politician. I came once when I was leader of the opposition. I now return as prime minister of Britain.

"And it is a great privilege to extend to you - and through you to the people of India - the hand of friendship from all the British people."

Stressing that he wanted "to take the relationship between India and Britain to the next level", Cameron said: "I want to make it stronger, wider and deeper."

Pointing out that India "has the whole world beating a path to its door", he said: "I understand that Britain cannot rely on sentiment and shared history for a place in India's future.

"And I hope that today, and throughout this visit, you will see the strength of my commitment and the scale of my ambition for this new relationship."