|
Rajya Sabha
The Minister of State for External Affairs, Shri E. Ahamed told the Rajya Sabha today that the New Delhi Declaration signed between India and Iran on 25th January, 2003 puts forth the vision of strategic partnership between the two countries touching all aspects of bilateral relations – mutual economic cooperation, cooperation in the field of hydrocarbans, science and technology, information technology, education and training, reconstruction of Afghanistan, international terrorism, and other global issues. In pursuance of this vision, the two countries have entered into agreements for cooperation, inter alia, in science and technology, hydrocarbons sector, cultural exchanges, transit of goods, vocational training & urban water management and operationalisation of a line of credit. In addition, there is a Joint Economic Commission at the level of Ministers, which meets regularly to promote bilateral economic cooperation. Interaction between India and Iran in the security and strategic spheres has also been institutionalised for enhanced regional and global cooperation.
The Minister further informed that President Mahmud Ahmadi-Nejad has taken over office in Iran on August 3, 2005. His Cabinet is yet to be finalised. Government of India will work closely with the new Government in Iran to further implement the Joint Declaration for forging a strategic partnership between India and Iran.
The above information was given by the Minister in reply to a question by Sh. S.S. Ahluwalia.
AK/SK/JA
|
