British Prime Minister David Cameron today said there was passion in the relationship between India and the UK as both the countries shared a common culture, commerce and democracy.
"There is a passion in the relationship between the two countries. That is why I had come to India three times in the last three and half years, the most other than Belgium, being the headquarters of EU," Cameron said at an interaction with students of IIM-Calcutta here.
Cameron, who touched down in the metropolis for a brief visit enroute to attend the CHOGM Summit at Colombo, said both the countries were facing challenges of terrorism and extremism and both should successfully find ways for mutual development.
"I hope we can work together and become partners of choice," he said.
Stating that his visit was after a long gap, he said he was at the right place as John Major (also of the Conservative Party) came here.
"We are getting back and doing things properly again," he said.
Cameron, who was also scheduled to meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said there were things which Kolkata needed.
"There are big opportunities in this beautiful city and needed improvement in the infrastructure, rivers and the waterways," he said.
He said the city had produced brilliant minds be it in the fields of physics, economics, politics and literature.
"Amartya Sen had taught us the link between economics and politics. The country is also celebrating 100 years of Tagore's receipt of the Nobel Prize. The city had also contributed to the Higgs-Boson Theory," he said.
"I believe in market economy and free enterprise. But there should be ways to create wealth and fund public services and also to tackle challenges. I think we gain from openness and the need for steady opening up," he said.
