British PM Boris Johnson tries his hands on a spinning wheel during a visit to the Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram, in Ahmedabad, Thursday, April 21, 2022.
Highlights
- A video of Boris Johnson spinning the charkha was shared widely on social media
- At the ashram, Boris Johnson also left a message in the visitor's book
- Johnson's two-day visit to India will focus on stepping up cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who landed in Ahmedabad on Thursday, visited Sabarmati Ashram. At the ashram, the UK prime minister was seen trying his hands at the iconic charkha, or the spinning wheel. A video of the act was shared widely on social media. At the ashram, Boris Johnson also left a message in the visitor's book.
"It is an immense privilege to come to the Ashram of this extraordinary man, and to understand how he mobilised such simple principles of truth and non-violence to change the world for the better," the letter read.
Johnson landed in Gujarat earlier today for his two-day India visit. He was accorded a grand welcome at the airport in Ahmedabad. During his visit to Sabarmati Ashram, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupesh Patel was present with him.
Johnson's two-day visit to India will focus on stepping up cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, giving momentum to negotiations on Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries as well as enhancing defence ties.
Johnson started his visit from Ahmedabad where he is scheduled to meet with leading business group leaders and discuss the UK and India's thriving commercial, trade, and people's links.
This is the first time a UK Prime Minister is in Gujarat, India's fifth-largest state and the ancestral home of around half of the British-Indian population in the UK.
Johnson will announce a slew of commercial agreements and hold bilateral discussions with a focus on the UK and India's trade, investment and technology partnership.
The British High Commission (BHC), in a statement, said Johnson will use his visit to India to boost "our collaboration with one of the world's fastest-growing economies, slashing trade barriers for UK businesses and driving jobs and growth at home".
The UK and Indian businesses will confirm more than £1 billion in new investments and export deals today in areas from software engineering to health, creating almost 11,000 jobs across the UK, added the BHC in the statement.
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