India invites UK PM Boris as chief guest at R-Day fete

New Delhi: India has invited United Kingdom Prime Minister Boris Johnson as the chief guest at the 2021 Republic Day celebrations. The invite was extended during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to UK counterpart last week. The telephonic talk that happened on November 27, focused on Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and other related issues.

A handout of The Union government on the meet said, "The leaders reiterated their shared desire to impart a quantum jump to the India-UK partnership in the post-Covid, post-BREXIT era, and agreed that there was tremendous potential for enhancing collaboration in trade and investment, scientific research, mobility of professionals and students, and defence and security."

Earlier in November, acting British High Commissioner to India Jan Thompson said Boris Johnson will soon make an 'in person' visit to India. The visit, as of now, will be the first in-person visit of any head of government to India. High-level physical visits have been suspended globally due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The last world leader to visit India was President of Myanmar Win Myint and US President Donald Trump in February.