UK to seek `new special relationship` with India

Prasun Sonwalkar
London, May 20 (PTI) Britain's new coalition
government Thursday committed itself to forge a 'new special
relationship' with India, an objective Prime Minister David
Cameron had articulated as early as 2006 during his visit to
New Delhi as the Conservative leader.
The full text of the coalition agreement published
Thursday says: "We will work to establish a new 'special
relationship' with India and seek closer engagement with
China, while standing firm on human rights in all our
bilateral relationships".
The agreement also supports India's membership to the
UN Security Council.
It says: "We support reform of the UN Security
Council, including permanent seats for Japan, India, Germany,
Brazil and African representation".
Cameron, who made his first overseas visit as leader
of the Conservative party to India in 2006, has been in close
touch with the Indian community often addressing public
meetings of Indian spiritual leader Morari Bapu.
Writing in The Guardian after his visit to New Delhi,
Cameron wrote: "For most of the past half century we in the
west have assumed that we set the pace and we set the global
agenda. Well now we must wake up to a new reality. We have to
share global leadership with India, and with China".
"And we must recognise that India has established
beyond argument, through its economic and political success,
its right to a seat at the top table. India, one of the great
civilisations of the world, is truly great again".
He added: "Our special relationship with America has
been forged through a shared past and a shared understanding
of the world. And now, in the 21st century, as the world's
centre of gravity moves from Europe and the Atlantic to the
south and the east, I believe it is time for Britain and India
to forge a new special relationship, to meet our shared
challenges in this new era of international affairs". PTI