More Indian students are now proceeding to the UK for higher studies than any other country, including China according to the British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis . He was speaking at a public lecture on ‘India-UK Relations’, at O.P. Jindal Global University in Haryana.
“The degree of human connection between our two countries is extraordinary, yet there is potential to take the India-UK relationship to a deeper and profound level,” Ellis said stressing on the need to develop stronger people-to-people connect. “It is the human level that is more important. I’d like to get more British people coming to India to understand the reality of India.”
During his first visit to the University, the High Commissioner also addressed students of international affairs, law and other disciplines, giving them a diplomatic and strategic overview of the relationship between the world’s two important democracies.
Alluding to the trade relations between the two countries, the High Commissioner said negotiations for a free trade agreement were going on and it’s important to look at not only the economic value it provides but also the strategic value.
Speaking of the different areas of cooperation, Ellis emphasized, “Together, as nations we will try to deal with some of the biggest problems the world faces, especially climate change! We have already demonstrated how well we have cooperated in the research and production of Covishield vaccine during the pandemic.”
The High Commissioner added that India is also number one in different kinds of visas on which Indians are travelling to the UK and also referred to India becoming the third country in the world from where illegal migrants cross the British channel on boats.
Professor Dr C. Raj Kumar, founding vice chancellor, of O.P. Jindal Global University welcomed the High Commissioner. In his address he said, “Among the post-colonial relationships of the world, the India-UK relationship is one of the most defining relationships of the last 35 years. Education plays a very significant role as this relationship transcends the usual boundaries of strategy, security, trade, investment and more.”