India-UK bilateral ties continue to be strong, broad-based and robust, acting Indian High Commissioner

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to the UK Rajesh Prasad has said.

Speaking at a reception hosted to celebrate the 63rd Republic Day here last night, Prasad said: "India-UK bilateral relations continue to be strong, broad-based and robust. The trade between the two countries has increased tremendously, despite the worsening global economic scenario."

Prasad, who also read out President Pratibha Patil's address to the nation, said India is the 3rd largest investor in the UK and "there has been a large number of high-level contacts between the two countries."

"The relationship is growing stronger by the day. We in the High Commission would like to thank the UK government for the cooperation we have received," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Britain's Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles said that "relations between India and the UK relies on families and communities. People of Indian descent here have been playing a vital part in this."

He said Britain would like to further consolidate its ties with India.

"It is great to be a supporter of India," he said.

Peter Luff, MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, said: "the UK-India relations has never been better and steps would be taken to further strengthen and deepen the relations."

Luff said he planned to visit India later this year.

Leading NRI industrialist Lord Swraj Paul, Chairman of the Hinduja Group S P Hinduja, High Commissioner of Pakistan to the UK Wajid Samsul Hasan, leading NRI MP Virendra Sharma, Barry Gardiner, MP, Chair of the Labour Friends of India, Lord Dolar Poppat were among the prominent persons present.