Economic ties top agenda as Modi meets Cameron, EU chief, Abe

14-11-2014 Fri 19:15 | International | IANS

Brisbane, Nov 14: Ahead of the G20 Summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first bilateral meetings with European Union President Herman Van Rompuy and British Prime Minister David Cameron where economic cooperation was top on the agenda. He ended the day with a dinner hosted by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Modi, who flew down here earlier in the day for the G20 Summit that begins Saturday, first visited the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) here and listened keenly to the latest developments in agricultural research, and also mingled with students and researchers. Modi held talks with an EU delegation headed by Rompuy who conveyed that the bloc was keen to "re-engage" with India in all areas, especially trade. Modi told him that the "EU should take advantage of the new economic environment in India". His meeting with Cameron was another highlight of his engagements at Brisbane. Cameron, who is meeting the Indian prime minister for the first time, told him that relations with India were at the "top of the priorities of UK's foreign policy" and also "Your's is a very inspiring vision, UK wants to partner in any way we can", according to tweets posted by the external affairs ministry. Modi will have bilateral meetings with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and also Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on the sidelines of the G20. He will also meet French President Francois Hollande, who is likely to push for negotiations to clinch the multi-billion dollar deal for the Rafale, which was selected two years ago for the 126 Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft (MMRCA) project. The dinner diplomacy with Abe was the high point of the day as the Japanese prime minister escorted Modi to the repast where strengthening of India-Japan economic ties and exchange of views was high on the agenda. Modi had visited Japan in August for the annual summit that saw the two leaders hit it off and both sides clinched several agreements, including in railways and infrastructure.