NEW BRITISH JUNIOR MINISTER ALOK SHARMA LEAVES FOR TALKS IN DELHI

LONDON: Alok Sharma, Britain’s newly-appointed junior minister in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office responsible for Asia and the Pacific, left for New Delhi on Sunday for talks with Indian ministers and representatives of trade and industry. Sharma said before leaving: “I am delighted that India will be my first official visit since taking up my appointment as a Foreign Office Minister. The UK and India have a broad and exciting partnership that includes trade and investment, climate and energy, education, health and culture, reinforced by the large, vibrant Indian diaspora in Britain.” Official sources said the agenda for the visit includes discussions on “smart cities” and a meeting with the next generation’s “opinion formers”.