James Bevan, the British High Commissioner in India has held a meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Gandhinagar on Monday to discuss trade and investment between the state and his country.

The meeting indicates that the UK government is looking to end a boycott on trade that was imposed in the aftermath of riots in the state in 2002. Officials said that the meeting went on for just under an hour and the two discussed investment, industry and trade between Gujarat and the UK. MR. Bevan also called upon the governor of the state, Dr Kamla Beniwal in the city and is expected to interact with the media soon.

The visit to state in a first by a senior British diplomat after 2002 riots, in which claimed the lives of three British nationals of Indian origin among others. UK had refused to grant diplomatic visa to Modi in 2005 following the riots in the state, this had forced him to cancel his visit to the country.

The UK foreign and commonwealth office had issued a state on October 11 saying, the move is meant to "discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest and to explore opportunities for closer cooperation, in line with the British Government's stated objective of improving bilateral relations with India."

The statement also showed that the UK government is interested in securing justice of the families of those British nationals who were killed during the riots and to help in efforts for promoting human rights and good governance. The office also said that the move will allow it to support British nationals in the state.