India, South Korea Sign 9 Pacts

New Delhi, Jan 18, IRNA -- India and South Korea signed nine pacts on Thursday. Nine pacts in wide-ranging fields, including cyber space cooperation were inked here today after the talks between Singh and South Korean President Park Geun-hye during which both leaders discussed ways to promote bilateral relations and exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues. After the talks, Singh said negotiations for revision of the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Convention have concluded. We have just concluded wide-ranging discussion on matters of bilateral interest and regional and global importance. This has enabled us to impart further substance, greater content and new momentum to the Strategic Partnership between our two countries, Singh said at a joint media event with Park, pti reported. He said both the leaders have decided to establish an annual interaction between the national security structures of the two countries besides agreeing to launch a Cyber Affairs Dialogue. I am happy that the large-scale POSCO steel project in Odisha is set to be operational in the coming weeks, following the re-validation of its environmental clearance. Grant of mining concession for the project is also at an advanced stage of processing. I conveyed to President Park our hope that this project will confirm that economic growth and environmental protection can go hand in hand, Singh said. During the talks, both sides recognized the possibility of defense trade and joint production of military equipment by further promoting collaboration between our defense research organizations. The Prime Minister hoped that the agreement on protection of classified military information signed will also boost defense engagement between the two countries. In the area of Science and Technology, our collaboration has been highly rewarding, with many practical projects being financed through the 10 million US dollar Joint Fund that we established in 2010, the Prime Minister said. On the MoU on Joint Applied Research, which was inked after the Summit-level talks, Singh said it will enable the scientists of the two countries to work together and develop technologies for our common benefit. We are also stepping up collaboration in the peaceful uses of space science and technology, he said. The Prime Minister said India has also decided to extend tourist visa on arrival facility to South Korean people to increase people-to-people contacts and was also exploring the possibility of better civil aviation links. Both the leaders also deliberated on regional issues, particularly developments in the Korean peninsula. The visit of President Park has imparted fresh momentum to our partnership. I am confident that our talks today have laid out a road map for the expansion and enhancement of our Strategic Partnership in the coming years, he said. Expressing satisfaction over outcome of the talks, Park said she has requested Singh to allow South Korean banks to operate in India. Park also said there has been scope for enhancing cooperation in defense sector. The Vice-President M Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Shushma Swaraj called on the South Korean President Park Geun-hye. The visiting dignitary also met Indian Counterpart Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan (Presidential Palace). President Park, arrived here Wednesday evening on a three-day state visit to India, will interact with Indian business leaders at an interaction being organized by three chambers of commerce – ASSOCHAM, Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)./end