UK PM Truss, PM Modi agree on 'vital importance' of bilateral ties in phone call

London: British Prime Minister Liz Truss spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and agreed on the “vital importance” of the India-UK bilateral relationship.

In their first phone call since Truss assumed office earlier this week, Modi conveyed his condolences on the death of Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of all Indians and paid tribute to the 96-year-old late monarch’s “lifetime of service”.

The two leaders said they looked forward to meeting in person in the near future.

“The Prime Minister spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi this afternoon, following the death of Her Majesty The Queen,” Downing Street said in a readout of the phone call.

"The Prime Minister thanked Prime Minister Modi for his heartfelt condolences, which he said were on behalf of 1.3 billion Indians. The leaders acknowledged the grief felt by the many people of the UK and India, and paid tribute to Her Majesty the Queen's lifetime of service,” the statement said.

“The two agreed on the vital importance of the UK-India relationship and looked forward to meeting in person in the near future,” it added.