Indian PM aspires to have "leading global partnership" with Britain

Visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday hailed negotiations between his country and Britain as a "huge moment" for the two nations.

Addressing the British Parliament, Modi said the two countries need to become "one of the leading global partnerships."

The Indian prime minister, who began a three-day official visit to Britain on Thursday, told the British lawmakers that the two countries' relations are of "immense importance."

Modi is the first serving Indian prime minister to address both houses of the British Parliament. His on-going visit is the first by an Indian prime minister in nearly 10 years.

During his trip, Modi held talks with his British counterpart David Cameron, visited a statue of Indian sage Mahatma Gandhi, and is expected to meet British Queen Elizabeth II and sign a series of trade deals with his host.

Cameron welcomed the Indian Prime Minister by saying that "the UK and India should work to make our strong partnership even stronger."

"It's an opportunity for two countries, tied by history, people and values, to work together to overcome the biggest challenges of our age," he said Thursday ahead of the visit.

"Prime Minister Modi and I intend to grab that opportunity with both hands. Because in doing so, we can make two of the greatest countries in the world even greater," he added.

To coincide with the visit, Cameron also announced the UK-India Year of Culture in 2017, outlining a year-long program of events to mark cultural ties between the two countries.

"Top UK institutions will partner with their Indian counterparts to strengthen cultural and economic ties between the 2 nations, and showcase British creativity on the global stage," Downing Street said in a statement.

The Year of Culture will include a Festival of India in Britain, a Magna Carta tour in India, a Shakespeare's First Folio tour to India by the British Library, and an India exhibition and India Gallery at Manchester Museum, among others, according to Downing Street.

Modi's critics also seized the chance to voice their dissatisfaction with his policies at home. Protesters gathered outside Downing Street on Thursday, chanting anti-Modi slogans and displaying placards and banners saying: "Modi not welcome," "Mass Murderer," and so on.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the opposition Labour Party, chose not to attend Modi's speech at the Parliament Thursday. Endit