India a genuine emerging power: Britain

Miliband was the Chief Guest at a reception jointly hosted by the Labour Friends of India, led by British MP Barry Gardiner and the Indian High Commissioner Shiv Shankar Mukherjee.

Referring to India8217;s role in the world, Miliband said 8220;many of us have many expectations. We want India to play a big role in climate change and we have to work with India as a genuine partner of equals.8221;

Miliband said that the UK-India relationship was a 8220;partnership of equals.8221;

8220;Just as you are already playing a major role in UN peace keeping, we want India to play a bigger role in climate change, which is already having its impact,8221; he said.

Douglas Alexander, Secretary of State, Department of International Development; Sir Gulam Noon, NRI industrialist; Virendra Sharma, Labour MP; Jordana Diengdo K Pavel, among others were also present at the meeting.

High Commissioner Mukherjee recalled India8217;s first Prime Minister Pandit Nehru8217;s famous lines about 8220;a tryst with destiny8221; and said, 8220;Sixty years down the line, we are quite a way ahead with the 8216;tryst with destiny8217; but there was a great deal yet to be done in wiping out tears from eyes of the weakest of the weak.8221;