The United Kingdom (UK) has invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 summit as a guest. The meet is scheduled to be held in Cornwall from June 11 to 14, 2021, said a press release by the British High Commission.
Johnson had extended an invitation to Modi during a phone call last year when India was chosen alongside South Korea and Australia as guest countries of the multilateral summit. The invitation was made formal on Sunday.
Johnson also reiterated his plan to visit India ahead of the G7 summit, after a scheduled visit for Republic Day this month was called off due to the coronavirus crisis.
G7 is a grouping of the UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the USA and the EU.
Terming India as the 'pharmacy of the world', the UK lauded the efforts regarding the production of coronavirus vaccine and said, "India already supplies more than 50% of the world's vaccines, and the UK and India have worked closely together throughout the pandemic."
This year, the UK has also invited leaders from Australia and South Korea to attend as guest countries to deepen the expertise and experience around the table, said the release.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will use the first in-person G7 summit in almost two years to ask leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to seize the opportunity to build back better from coronavirus, uniting to make the future fairer, greener and more prosperous.
"Coronavirus is doubtless the most destructive force we have seen for generations and the greatest test of the modern world order we have experienced. It is only right that we approach the challenge of building back better by uniting with a spirit of openness to create a better future," said Boris Johnson.
The summit in June will address shared challenges, from beating coronavirus and tackling climate change, to ensuring that people everywhere can benefit from open trade, technological change and scientific discovery.
The UK was the first P5 member to support a permanent UNSC (United Nations Security Council) seat for India and the first G7 member to invite India to a G7 Summit in 2005.
(With agency inputs)
