The Hindu : National : Manmohan: time ripe for transforming ties

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Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008
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Manmohan: time ripe for transforming ties

Sandeep Dikshit

NEW DELHI: India and Egypt on Tuesday resolved to ensure that the issues relevant to the emerging market economies receive the appropriate attention in any future discussions on the financial crises.

“The visit has opened a new chapter in our relations. We have both agreed that all the conditions are ripe for transforming our relations to correspond to contemporary realities,” Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told journalists after meeting the visiting Egyptian President, Hosni Mubarak, here on Tuesday.

Tackling terrorism

On other issues of global reach, both sides underscored the need for concerted, collective action against terrorism. They also agreed to expand cooperation in priority areas such as hydrocarbons, information technology, agriculture and biotechnology.

Mr. Mubarak is visiting India after 25 years whereas the last Prime Ministerial trip to Egypt took place in 1997.

Agreements

The two sides signed agreements on abolition of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports, cooperation in the exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, health and medicine and trade and technical cooperation.

Before the delegation level talks with Dr. Singh, Mr. Mubarak met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Later Vice-President Hamid Ansari and United Progressive Alliance Sonia Gandhi called on him. These interactions were followed by a meeting with President Pratibha Patil, who also hosted a banquet for him. The Egyptian President, who arrived here on Sunday evening leaves for Cairo on Wednesday morning.

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