'India, Britain must step up momentum of information sharing'

In a foreword to a book, 'Reconnecting Britain and India', launched here, Dr Singh said, "We are committed to transform our bilateral relations into an enhanced strategic partnership"

At the same time he said, "We must aspire for better appreciation of each other's core concerns, including on the security environment." "While we have been co-operating to deal with the terrorist challenge, we could further step up the quality and momentum of exchanges and information sharing on a real time basis," he said.

British Prime Minister David Cameron responded to Singh's concern by writing in his foreward to the book: "Of course, one of the biggest threats both our countries face at the moment is terrorism, carried out by extremists who are adept at crossing borders and communicating globally. This calls on our governments to act together to protect our citizens."

Singh also asked British firms should channelise larger investments into India's ambitious infrastructure programme. "I invite greater involvement of British infrastructure firms and the City of London (the financial sector) to channelise larger investments into India's ambitious infrastructure programme."

India's Commerce Minister Anand Sharma who jointly launched the book with British trade Minister Lord Green at 11 Downing Street, official residence of the Chancellor of Exchequer yesterday, said "cooperation between Britain and India on new technologies could bring about a paradigm change in the two countries."

Sharma said "The technologies which would come in this decade will bring about a paradigm shift and that to my mind, Britain and India must do together particularly in green technologies." The book is edited by the British MP, Jo Johnson and Rajiv Kumar, Secretary-general of FICCI.