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The two countries also decided to expedite their
negotiations for a free trade area agreement in
goods, services and investments by June-July this
year.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Thai counterpart
Yingluck Shinawatra, who is visiting India as
chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations
Jan 26, held discussions on a wide gamut of bilateral;,
regional and international issues.
Six agreements were inked Jan 25 after the talks,
including a crucial treaty on transfer of sentenced
persons and a memorandum of understanding on defence
cooperation. The second Protocol to amend the
framework agreement for establishing FTA between
Thailand and India was also sealed. To enhance
people-to-people contacts and innovation partnership,
the two sides signed a pact on cooperation in
Science & Technology, another pact on cultural
exchange programme for 2012-14 and an MoU between
Thailand's Chulalongkorn University and the Indian
Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for setting
up a Chair at the India Studies Centre of the
university.
In their talks, the two leaders focused on upgrading
their bilateral ties into a more broad-based strategic
partnership. "Developing close relations
with Thailand is an important component of our
'Look East' Policy. Strong India-Thailand relations
contribute to peace, prosperity and stability
in the region," Manmohan Singh said after
talks with Shinawatra.
Manmohan Singh pitched for more Thai investment
into India, especially in the manufacturing, infrastructure
and services sectors. Bilateral trade is expected
to touch $10 billion next year. Indian companies
have invested $2 billion in Thailand and companies
from that country invested nearly $1 billion in
India.
"Given the progress in the relationship,
both sides expressed the desire to work together
towards elevating the bilateral relations to strategic
partnership for mutual benefit," said a joint
statement after the talks. Stressing the need
for stronger counter-terror and security cooperation,
Manmohan Singh said he underlined to Thai leader
the need to put in place a bilateral legal framework
to deal with non-state actors and subversive elements
that pose a common threat to both our societies.
In this context, the two decided to expedite
the ongoing negotiations on an extradition treaty
and the mutual legal assistance treaty on civil
and commercial matters.
Both leaders noted that the increasing menace
of terrorists, criminals, arms and drug traffickers
trying to use this region for their nefarious
activities provided an added urgency to strengthen
cooperation in security and intelligence exchange,
the joint statement said.
They also agreed to put in place a five-year
Joint Working Programme on specific elements of
cooperation would be finalized urgently in this
regard.
The two leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism
in all its forms and manifestations and stressed
that there could be no justification whatsoever
for any act of terrorism.
The Thai leader's visit coincides with the 65th
anniversary of establishment of bilateral diplomatic
relations, as well as 20 years of India's enhanced
engagement with ASEAN.
(IANS)
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