Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he met his British counterpart Rishi Sunak at the Group of 20 summit in Bali yesterday and discussed ways to boost trade between the two countries.
Sunak also indicated he will take a different approach to trade deals to his predecessor Liz Truss, who was prime minister for a few weeks but set the tone for Britain's negotiations as trade minister.
Following criticism of the deals Britain has struck since leaving the EU, Sunak has said he will not rush talks with countries like India. Talks with India did not yield a deal by the Diwali deadline set by former prime minister Boris Johnson.
"My approach will be one where we don't sacrifice quality for speed," Sunak said, adding he remained "committed to" getting a deal with India. "I want to take the time to get trade deals right."
After the meeting, PM Modi said India attaches great importance to robust India-UK ties.
Sunak expressed optimism that Britain and the United States could deepen their economic relationship but he said he had not spoken specifically about a trade deal with US President Joe Biden.
At a G20 meeting, Sunak said he "didn't discuss the trade deal in particular" with Biden, but had spoken about economic cooperation, particularly on energy.
"I am filled with optimism about our ability to do more trade with the US, to deepen our economic relationship. That can happen in lots of different ways," Sunak told a news conference.
Trade minister Kemi Badenoch was in Washington this week and said it was "no secret" Britain wanted a comprehensive free-trade agreement with the United States.
But with talks over a trade deal on ice, London and Washington have instead settled for a strategic dialogue to expand the trading relationship and a focus on signing memorandums of understanding with individual states.
