Here are the LIVE Updates of PM Modi's visit to the UK for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM):
Sharing coffee, laughter and a vision! Pull-aside meetings with Prime Minister of Fiji Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of St. Lucia Allen Chastanet and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Rick Houenipwela on the sidelines of #CHOGM2018. pic.twitter.com/z8XR9sMul8
- Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018
PM @narendramodi meets Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 in #London. pic.twitter.com/BXLPOZVYxm
- PIB India (@PIB_India) April 19, 2018
Relations in upward trajectory! PM @narendramodi and President of Gambia, Adama Barrow met on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 and discussed steps to deepen partnership. pic.twitter.com/uEqbCZgzw9
- Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018
Friend in an extended neighbourhood! PM @narendramodi and President of Seychelles, Danny Faure met on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 and discussed cooperation in areas of trade and investment and other bilateral issues. pic.twitter.com/REUhbyZXtV
- Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018
Cementing our historic and close friendship with Mauritius! On the sidelines of #CHOGM18, PM @narendramodi and Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth talked about cooperation in trade and investment, maritime cooperation and people-to-people ties. pic.twitter.com/0GJoTX0t8J
- Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018
Queen Elizabeth II today appealed to Commonwealth leaders to appoint her son, Prince Charles, to succeed her as their head, making her first direct intervention into a succession plan for the 53-member grouping.
The 91-year-old monarch, the Head of the Commonwealth, said it was her "sincere wish" that Prince Charles takes over "one day", as she opened the two-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The post of Head of Commonwealth is not hereditary and will not pass automatically to the 69-year-old Prince of Wales on the Queen's death.
(PTI)
Addressing the shared global challenges
- Indian Diplomacy (@IndianDiplomacy) April 19, 2018
An association of 53 independent countries, @commonwealthsec works to pursue democracy, peace & development pic.twitter.com/P4mUhvCPKa
Pictures from @Commonwealth18, where PM @narendramodi and other world leaders are taking part. pic.twitter.com/hdSnhewo9M
- PMO India (@PMOIndia) April 19, 2018
Take a tour inside the Leaders lounge at #CHOGM2018 and see the room where #Commonwealth Heads of Government are currently meeting to agree action towards a common future for #ourCommonwealth pic.twitter.com/ZAVykz5y9x
- CHOGM London 2018 (@Commonwealth18) April 19, 2018
"The modern Commonwealth has a vital role to play in building bridges between our countries, fairer societies within them and a more secure world around them," Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales at the Formal Opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London 2018, said.
Here is his full speech:
Your Majesty, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a very special pleasure to be here with you all this morning and to join Her Majesty The Queen in welcoming each of you to Buckingham Palace for the Formal Opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting.
This is an occasion to celebrate, with renewed pride, our remarkable Commonwealth family, particularly as it follows so hard on the heels of the twenty-first Commonwealth Games on Australia's Gold Coast, at the opening of which I was proud to have been asked to represent Her Majesty. Witnessing this great gathering of seventy-one countries and territories and meeting their athletes in the Games Village was, above all, a moving reminder of the strong and affectionate bonds which we all share.
For my part, the Commonwealth has been a fundamental feature of my life for as long as I can remember, beginning with my first visit to Malta when I was just five years old. I consider myself fortunate over the years to have been able to meet and talk with so many of the giants of the Commonwealth - Sir Robert Menzies; Kwame Nkrumah; Sir Keith Holyoake; Jomo Kenyatta; Pierre Trudeau; Kenneth Kaunda; Julius Nyerere; Lee Kuan Yew and many more. On the foundations they laid, the modern Commonwealth has a vital role to play in building bridges between our countries, fairer societies within them and a more secure world around them.
And so, Ladies and Gentlemen, I pray that this Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will not only revitalize the bonds between our countries, but will also give the Commonwealth a renewed relevance to all citizens, finding practical solutions to their problems and giving life to their aspirations. By doing so, the Commonwealth can be a cornerstone for the lives of future generations, just as it has been for so many of us.
UK Prime Minister @theresa_may and Commonwealth Secretary-General @PScotlandCSG address leaders and members of The Royal Family at the formal opening of #CHOGM2018.@RoyalFamily @commonwealthsec pic.twitter.com/Me2u1665qy
- CHOGM London 2018 (@Commonwealth18) April 19, 2018
HRH Prince of Wales welcomes Commonwealth leaders as the formal opening of #CHOGM2018 gets underway inside the Ballroom in Buckingham Palace.@RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/WNotZb21hi
- CHOGM London 2018 (@Commonwealth18) April 19, 2018
Vibrant performances from @KinetikaBloco and @dholdrummers bringing the sounds of carnival to the formal opening of #CHOGM2018 outside Buckingham Palace today. pic.twitter.com/MrEhOLx1et
- CHOGM London 2018 (@Commonwealth18) April 19, 2018
Britain has laid out the red carpet for PM Modi, who has been given a limousine which will take him between various venues, while all other leaders will be going in a coach. This is just one of many things that UK has done to show the importance it gives to its relations with India.
India is going to invest over a billion pounds in the United Kingdom. India and the UK signed multiple agreements and MoUs when Prime Minister Modi met his British counterpart Theresa May at her official residence 10 Downing Street yesterday. Both countries decided to deepen ties, especially in the areas of technology, trade and investment.
This will be the first time in a decade that an Indian prime minister will be attending the event which is held every two years. India got a special invite wherein Prince Charles traveled to India and personally invited Prime Minister Modi for the event. The Queen too sent a personal note inviting the prime minister.
