Manmohan discusses downturn with British PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meeting the Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Gordon Brown on the sidelines of G-8 Summit, in L’Aquila, Italy on July 8

L'AQUILA, Italy: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met his British counterpart Gordon Brown and discussed the current global economic downturn and restructuring of the international financial architecture as well as the issue of climate change.

The meeting, which lasted 45 minutes on the sidelines of the G-8 summit here, gave the two leaders an opportunity to exchange views and perspectives on steps for quick recovery of the global economy against the back of the current downturn.

Briefing reporters on the meeting, the second in three months after their earlier engagement this year in London in April, an official spokesman said it also touched on the issue of restructuring of the global financial architecture.

On climate change, the two leaders reflected on taking up joint development of green technology projects.

Singh gave Brown his perspectives on India's national action plan on climate change and provided him a copy of it.

India's questions and answers preparatory to Copenhagen summit were also mentioned.
The Prime Minister invited Brown to participate in a conference on climate change in Delhi in October this year where technology transfer and development would be discussed.