Kolkata: UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson will meet West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee next week during his visit to the city to attend a programme of Presidency University.
According to a highly-placed source at the state secretariat, the UK diplomat, who is scheduled to reach the city on January 19 to participate in an extension of the Global Education Summit of Presidency University, would meet Banerjee on the same day.
“Mr Johnson’s visit will be a hush-hush affair. He will be coming from New Delhi and will be reaching Kolkata on January 19. Kolkata will be a stopover. He will be meeting the Chief Minister on the same day. He will also be participating in a programme of the Presidency University that day,” the senior official told PTI.
Johnson’s meeting with Banerjee is likely to be a follow-up of her visit to London in July 2015, the officer said.
It was also learnt that the UK has shown keen interest in partnering the state government in the restoration and maintenance of the numerous heritage buildings in the city.
“Though nothing is confirmed as yet there is a possibility of discussions on the partnership between the UK and the state during Johnson’s meeting with Banerjee,” he said.
Asked whether the British diplomat would be participating in the Bengal Global Business Summit starting the next day, the official said Johnson was scheduled to leave the city on January 19 night for another countr