Britain re-established Monday its diplomatic relations with the western Indian state of Gujarat, after a decade-long boycott following communal riots in the state.

Following protests in Britain over the deaths of two British nationals in the communal riots in 2002, the UK Foreign Office had denied a visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2005.

But, British High Commissioner to India James Bevan this morning met Modi for the first time after the communal riots, saying the re-engagement "is in the interests of the United Kingdom".

"We are engaging with Gujarat government so it does not mean we are endorsing an individual. It's not about engaging with one figure, but with Gujarat in general," the British envoy told the media in the city of Ahmedabad.

However, Bevan said that the timing of Britain's unexpected policy shift towards Gujarat and Modi just two months prior to the crucial assembly polls in the state doesn't have any significance as "we have taken no political position on Gujarat".

He added, "Who runs Gujarat is a matter of the people of the state and I don't think the Gujarat voter is likely to be swayed by the fact that the British High Commissioner spent eight hours in Ahmedabad."

The state government has welcomed the move.

"During the meeting, Modi, keeping in mind the large number of Gujarat origin people living in UK, urged him to start an office of deputy British High Commission in Gujarat," an official statement from the state government said.