British PM Starmer hosts PM Modi at Chequers

London: UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Thursday hosted his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi at Chequers, the country residence of the British PM.

The two leaders held a tete-a-tete before holding serious talks.

Besides witnessing the inking of an ambitious free trade agreement, the two prime ministers are also expected to unveil an "UK-India Vision 2035" to take the partnership to new heights.

Modi landed in London on Wednesday as part of his two-nation trip to the UK and the Maldives.

The formalisation of the FTA is set to be a key highlight of Modi's two-day trip to the UK.

In May, India and the UK sealed the FTA that is expected to benefit 99 per cent Indian exports from tariff and will make it easier for British firms to export whisky, cars and other products to India, besides boosting the overall trade basket.

The trade deal, firmed up after three years of negotiations, is expected to ensure comprehensive market access for Indian goods across all sectors and India will gain from tariff elimination on about 99 per cent of tariff lines (product categories) covering almost 100 per cent of the trade values, according to officials.

Along with the FTA -- the biggest the UK has done since leaving the European Union -- the two sides also sealed a double contribution convention. It provides for the exemption for employers of Indian workers from paying social security contributions in the UK.