UK PM Boris Johnson Accepts PM Modi's Invitation To Visit India

Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan stated that UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has accepted PM Modi's invitation to visit India saying that he would plan his visit as soon as the circumstances allow.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson will jointly launch the initiative Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States (IRIS) at the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-26) in Glasgow, said Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Tuesday.

Briefing about the programme of PM Modi at COP26 on the second day, Mr Shringla on Tuesday said, "It will be a very busy day, which will begin with the photo op of the leaders at 8:30 in the morning. You have a special session that would be the launch of the initiative for Resilient Island States (IRIS), which is essentially part of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) that would focus on building capacity, having pilot projects especially in small island developing states that would also involve in some senses, setting up norms and standards for resilient infrastructure."

During the press briefing, Mr Shringla said that the "Prime Minister has pointed out that, in many cases, lives are lost, but livelihoods and entire infrastructure, housing, everything that is to do with infrastructure is lost with cyclones, etc. Especially small island states and coastal areas the vulnerable to these ravages of climate change. And this is an effort to try and equip countries that are particularly vulnerable to these effects of climate change."

Foreign Secretary said, "You will have the launch of the Infrastructure for the Resilient Island States called IRIS. This will involve a joint effort between India and the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Boris Johnson will jointly launch and you will have the participation of Australia, which is also a partner in this effort."