Updated on Friday, July 03, 2009, 22:09 IST

London, July 03: Tony Blair was on Friday honoured with a top medal for his contribution to UK-India relations, which the former British Prime Minister said he "treassured" as it grew from strength to strength during the last one decade.

Receiving the Fenner Brockway medal from Lord Peter Mandelson, Britain's First Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills at a gala function at Deutsche Bank's headquarters here, Blair described Fenner as a "tireless campaigner for India's independence" and it was actually an honour to receive the medal.

Blair said he "treassured" the UK-India relationship which grew from strength to strength during the last one decade and said India "has an important role to play in the global scene now, not only in the field of economy but in tackling the growing menace of terrorism because of its long experience in dealing with the issue."

Blair also congratulated India's Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, on his re-election and said "he is one of my favourites, not only for his outstanding calibre as an economist but for his leadership, not only to India but to the world."

Presenting the award, Lord Mandelson said he knew Fenner Brockway who "argued powerfully in parliament for an independent India." He paid tribute to Blair for "being committed to India and to understanding the dramatic way in which India's place and role in the world has changed in the last twenty years."

The medal was first awarded to former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw in 2007 and then to former Labour Party leader and current Chair of the British Council Lord Kinnock in 2008.

India's High Commissioner to the UK, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, congratulated Blair for receiving the award, saying "you have laid the foundation for a vibrant India-UK relations at a difficult time."

He also expressed India's deepest appreciation and gratitude to Blair for evolving a "strategic partnership between India and UK" and the "principal support we got from the UK on the question of India's aspiration for a permanent seat at the expanded UN Security Council." He looked forward to have continued support on vital issues.

Bureau Report