President calls for closer India, UK ties against terror

New Delhi:President Pranab Mukherjee has called for cooperation between India and the United Kingdom on counter-terrorism operations, a Rashtrapati Bhavan statement said on Tuesday.

"Terrorism is the biggest menace to world peace and tranquility. It is a scourge that knows no territorial or ideological boundaries. India and the UK need to cooperate more on counter-terrorism," the statement quoted the President as saying.

Mukherjee's remarks came during a meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May, who is on her maiden, three-day official visit to the country, at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday.

Mukherjee said that India sees the UK as a key partner in its growth and economy, and would encourage more UK companies to partner with its national programmes like Make in India, Skill India and Digital India, among others.

"Bilateral trade between India and the UK in goods stood at US $14 billion in 2015-16. There is immense scope to further enhance our trade exchanges both in goods and services," the statement said.

The British Prime Minister said that her visit to India reflects the strength of the relationship.

"The UK is looking to forge a key bilateral partnership with India, which would be to the advantage of both sides," the statement quoted May as saying.

This is the first bilateral visit of May outside of Europe since she assumed the Prime Minister's office in July this year.

She took over the prime ministership after David Cameron resigned following the historic referendum in June in which Britain voted to exit from the European Union. Cameron rooted for Britain to stay in the EU.

May's visit comes a little less than a year after Modi's visit to Britain in November last year.