This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6269653.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Brown begins landmark India visit Brown backs stronger India role
(about 7 hours later)
UK chancellor Gordon Brown has begun his first official visit to India in the technology hub of Bangalore. UK chancellor Gordon Brown has backed a stronger role for India on the international stage.
Mr Brown will also visit the capital, Delhi, and India's financial and cinema capital, Mumbai (also known as Bombay) during his three-day visit. Speaking in the city of Bangalore on his first official trip to the country, Britain's prime minister in waiting talked of a "new world order".
His choice of Bangalore as the first stop on the visit points to the approach he is expected to take in relations between India and Britain. Separately, he also called "offensive" allegedly racist remarks directed at Indian film star Shilpa Shetty on UK reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother.
Mr Brown is widely expected to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister this year. Mr Brown will also visit Delhi and the financial capital, Mumbai (Bombay).
India is becoming a great power, he told journalists on board his aircraft on the eve of his visit to India. Observers say the chancellor's three-day visit is an attempt to move beyond fiscal policy and strengthen his international credentials.
Mr Brown is visiting one of India's leading software companies, Wipro, and will later deliver a keynote address to business leaders, during which he is expected to stress the importance of trade links between the two countries. He is widely expected to succeed Tony Blair as prime minister later this year.
India has emerged as one of the largest investors in Britain and several British firms, including mobile giant, Vodafone and retailer Tesco, are hoping to gain entry into the Indian market. Trade ties
Mr Brown's talks in Delhi will focus on climate change and terrorism. Correspondents say Mr Brown's choice of Bangalore as the first stop on the visit points to the approach he is expected to take in relations with India.
In Mumbai, he will visit a Bollywood film studio. It is time to formally recognise on a more consistent and regular basis the reality of this emerging new world order UK Chancellor Gordon Brown class="" href="/1/hi/world/south_asia/6267387.stm"> Sea change in UK-India ties
He told business leaders in the city that he strongly backs India's bid for a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
He also said rich nations, Britain included, must acknowledge a changing world order and that the G-7, an exclusive club, might have to think about opening its doors.
"Let me say Britain strongly supports India's bid for a permanent place, with others, on a larger Security Council," Mr Brown told the Confederation of Indian Industry conference in a keynote address.
"It is time to formally recognise on a more consistent and regular basis the reality of this emerging new world order."
Mr Brown is also visiting one of India's leading software companies, Wipro, during his stay in Bangalore.
Stressing the importance of trade links between the two countries is expected to be a key theme of his visit.
India is now the third largest investor in the UK, with more than 500 Indian companies opening offices there.
And several British firms, including mobile giant Vodafone and retailer Tesco, are hoping to gain entry into the Indian market.
Mr Brown will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other leaders in Delhi on Thursday, where climate change and combating terrorism are likely to feature on the agenda.
On Friday he will visit a Bollywood film studio in the financial and film capital, Mumbai.
Big Brother row
The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson who is travelling with Mr Brown says diplomats in India believe the Big Brother row is damaging Britain's reputation.
Mr Brown said the issue had been raised repeatedly during his trip.
"I understand that in the UK there have already been 10,000 complaints from viewers about these remarks, which people see, rightly, as offensive," he said.
"I want Britain to be seen as a country of fairness and tolerance. Anything detracting from this I condemn."