Indian, Thailand PM sign six key pacts

India and Thailand on Wednesday discussed strengthening of cooperation in strategic fields and inked six pacts in key areas including defence, security and economy.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra held wide-ranging discussions on international, regional and bilateral issues and expressed the desire to work together towards elevating the bilateral relations to strategic partnership for mutual benefit.

"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," Singh said at a joint media event with Ms.Shinawatra.

Emphasising the need to step up bilateral cooperation and exchanges in the fields of defence, counter-terrorism and security, Singh said he underlined to Shinawatra 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, we have concluded an Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons", Singh said. 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, a joint statement said.

They also agreed that 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.

To strengthen economic links between the two countries, they reaffirmed their resolve to conclude the bilateral Comprehensive Agreement on Trade in Goods, Services, and Investments by mid-2012. Agreements signed during the visit are in the field of defence cooperation, transfer of sentenced prisoners and a second protocol to amend the framework agreement between India and Thailand.

The other agreements are programmes for cooperation in the fields of science and technology and culture exchange progammes for 2012 to 2014 and an MoU between ICCR and Chulalongkorn University of Thailand for setting up a Chair at India Studies Centre.

Describing Thailand as "close friend and a valued regional partner", the Prime Minister said while both the countries have made good all-round progress in many areas of bilateral relations, they can and should do much more together.

"We see Thailand as playing a positive role in our efforts to develop our northeastern states and improve connectivity with the ASEAN region. We have agreed to intensify progress on connectivity projects such as the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway," Singh said.

Noting that India and Thailand work together in a number of regional mechanisms such as the East Asia Summit, ASEAN, BIMSTEC and the Mekong Ganga Cooperation initiative, Singh said both countries share similar views on building an open and inclusive architecture of regional cooperation in Asia which enhances trust and confidence. He said both countries have specifically decided to set up a joint working group on infrastructure and connectivity and to encourage their energy and infrastructure companies to work together including in third countries.

- Asian Tribune -

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