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The following is the text of the joint statement issued at the conclusion of visit of the President of the Republic of Korea H.E. Mr. Roh Moo-Hyun, here today:
"1. H.E. Mr. Roh Moo-hyun, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK), paid a state visit to India from 4 to 6 October 2004, at the invitation of H. E. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, President of the Republic of India. Accompanying H.E. President Roh Moo-hyun on his visit to India was a high-level delegation, including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Mr. Ban Ki-moon, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Energy Mr. Lee Hee-beom, and Minister of Information and Communication Mr. Chin Dae-je, apart from leading representatives of business and industry from the Republic of Korea.
2. President Roh Moo-hyun met President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. Vice President Mr. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat called on the President of the Republic of Korea. President Roh and Prime Minister of India Mr. Manmohan Singh held talks on a range of bilateral, international and regional issues. Chairperson of United Progressive Alliance Coordination Committee Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Mr. K. Natwar Singh called on President Roh. The President of the Republic of Korea also delivered the keynote address at a joint FICCI-CII business meeting.
3. The wide-ranging deliberations between the two sides took place in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. Leaders of the two countries exchanged views on various aspects of bilateral relations as also on regional and international issues of mutual interest, including cooperation in international fora. They made a positive appraisal of the existing cooperation and exchanges while emphasizing the immense scope that exists for further enhancing these in diverse areas of interaction.
4. Both sides noted with satisfaction the steady development of friendly and cooperative relations between India and the ROK since the establishment of diplomatic relations in December 1973. The traditional friendship between the two countries has been developing on the strong foundations of commitment to democratic ideals and the shared desire to consolidate and diversify their exchanges. Close cooperation between India and the ROK will be a factor of stability in the politically and culturally diverse and rapidly transforming Asia.
5. The two sides resolved to take India-ROK relationship to a higher level in the 21st century. They have a mutual interest in the maintenance of peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and the world and share the desire to develop closer and more extensive understanding and cooperation in regional and international affairs. In this background, the two sides decided to establish a "Long-term Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Prosperity" with the aim of fully utilizing the substantial potential and opportunities for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation taking advantage of their economic complementarities and political convergences and also for pursuing peace and prosperity in the region and the world.
6. Both sides shared the view that high-level exchanges between governments, parliaments and political parties of the two countries play an important role in expanding overall bilateral cooperation between the two countries. They conveyed their determination to maintain the momentum of such exchanges in future and agreed on the need for regular meetings between their leaders alternately in respective capitals or elsewhere, including on the occasions of multilateral meetings, to review bilateral relations and consult on regional and international developments and issues. In this context, the two sides also reiterated the importance of the India-ROK Joint Commission co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers of the two countries and the Foreign Office Consultations. It was agreed that the third meeting of the Joint Commission will be held in Seoul at an early date. The two sides also confirmed their intention to promote regular ministerial-level exchanges, including between their Trade and Finance Ministers.
7. The two sides welcomed the establishment of the India-ROK Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue. The Dialogue will be broad-based and cover, inter alia, regional and international security issues, bilateral, defence and service-to-service exchanges and counter terrorism. It was also agreed that this dialogue will be held alternately in India and the ROK beginning from the year 2005.
8. Both sides noted the useful exchanges and interaction in the defence field and agreed to further promote such exchanges and interaction. They agreed on the need for cooperation in matters pertaining to safety and security of international maritime traffic. They also agreed to promote cooperation between their navies, coast guards and related agencies in areas like anti-piracy and search and rescue operations.
9. Both sides shared the view that broadening and deepening of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, based on the complementarities and growth potential of the two economies, will contribute to further promoting their common prosperity. They agreed to set a target of US$ 10 billion for bilateral trade by 2008 and emphasized the need to jointly work towards achieving it.
10. They agreed to continue policy dialogues in economic and trade area with a view to developing the bilateral relations into a more comprehensive and future-oriented one. As part of such an initiative, the two sides will establish a Joint Study Group (JSG), composed of government officials, economists and representatives of business community, to take a comprehensive view of bilateral economic linkages between the two countries, covering, among others, trade in goods and services, investment flows, and other areas of economic cooperation. The JSG will, inter alia, examine the feasibility of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement between India and ROK. The JSG will give concrete suggestions on ways and means to encourage closer economic engagement between the two countries based on the result of the study. It will start its work no later than in January 2005 and submit its report within one year.
11. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the steady increase in the volume of bilateral trade and investment in recent years. The Indian side welcomed investment from the ROK into India, including in the field of infrastructure, and manufacturing plants, and hoped that the inflow of such investment will significantly expand. The ROK side also welcomed Indian investment in the ROK. Both sides agreed to make further efforts to facilitate greater participation by the ROK companies in the development of infrastructure in India, including in highway construction, ports, etc.
12. In consideration of the importance of Mumbai as an economic and trade center in India, the ROK side conveyed to the Indian side that it planned to upgrade its office in Mumbai to a Consulate General at the earliest possible date in 2005. The Indian side welcomed the decision, noting that a Consulate General in Mumbai would contribute to the enhancement of cooperation in trade and investment between the two countries.
13. Both sides agreed to further strengthen the activities of India-Korea Joint Trade Committee and India-Korea Joint Committee on Investment Promotion - two major channels of consultation between the two governments in the fields of economy and trade. They agreed to facilitate broader and deeper economic and commercial relations, both in the public and private sectors. Both sides agreed to conclude at the earliest an Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters.
14. Noting the importance of air links in facilitating bilateral cooperation, the two sides agreed to enhance their air connectivity in order to facilitate enhanced trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. They also agreed to explore ways and means for improved shipping links between the two sides.
15. Both sides agreed to promote cooperation in various areas including among others, information and communication technology, infrastructure, textiles, petro-chemicals, oil and gas field development including third country collaborations, automobiles, shipbuilding and agriculture. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of iron and steel manufacturing, noting in this context the proposal by a Korean company POSCO for a large scale integrated iron and steel project in the State of Orissa.
16. In particular, they agreed to place special emphasis on cooperation in the IT sector to actively develop new cooperation projects, including in third country markets, combining ROK’s competitive edge in hardware with India’s advanced software. They also agreed to promote personnel exchanges, visits of business delegations and closer dialogue on IT, for sharing of experiences and technical know-how. The two sides agreed to encourage the establishment of an Indian software training center in the ROK. It was also agreed to encourage greater investment by the ROK companies in the IT hardware sector in India.
17. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in international fora such as the UN and the WTO, and to continue to hold consultations on issues of common interest. They agreed to work together to preserve stability and growth in the global economy, reduce disparities in incomes and standards between developed and developing countries, and to join hands in an unrelenting battle against poverty in the world. They supported an open, fair, equitable and transparent rule-based multilateral trading system and decided to work together to strengthen it. In this context, they welcomed the Decision on the Doha Work Programme of August 1, 2004 and agreed to work together to achieve the objectives enshrined in the Doha mandate in the final outcome of the negotiations.
18. Both sides recognize the similar challenges they face in their efforts to protect the environment while simultaneously achieving robust economic growth. In this context, they agreed to make concerted efforts in addressing global environmental concerns such as adaptations to climate change and biodiversity conservation, and to strengthen their consultations and cooperation on sustainable development, environmentally sound technologies and other environmental issues in relevant international fora.
19. Both sides recognized the importance of science and technology cooperation and agreed to work together to exploit the enormous potential for cooperation in this field, including in the area of high-technology. In this context, they agreed to exchange visits by science and technology missions in 2005.
20. The Indian side drew the attention of the Korean side to their successful cooperation in the launch of KITSAT III in 1999, and proposed that both sides actively explore further cooperation in the field of space. The Korean side agreed to consider the proposal.
21. Both sides noted the importance of the Treaty on Extradition and the Treaty on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters signed during the visit, and shared the view that the entry into force of the two Treaties will lay a foundation for the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries. In the light of expanding cooperation between the two countries, both sides agreed to conclude at the earliest an agreement on exemption of visa requirement for holders of diplomatic and official passports. They also agreed to enter into discussions for further simplification of visa procedures, including on issuance of multiple entry visas for the business community. They expressed hope that these will facilitate exchanges between the two sides and strengthen their friendly relations.
22. Both sides highly appreciated the various cultural events commemorating the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations organized by the two countries with the assistance of each other in India and the ROK during 2003 and 2004. They also noted with pleasure that the visit of President Roh Moo-hyun is taking place in the year marking the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.
23. They noted that during the India-ROK Joint Cultural Commission held in New Delhi in May 2004, the two governments have agreed to the Cultural Exchange Programme which will be the framework for exchanges in this field until 2007. Both sides hoped that the Exchange Programme, will accelerate cultural exchanges between the two countries.
24. Both sides expressed satisfaction with recently strengthened exchanges in the areas of culture, education and films, and affirmed that mutual understanding and cultural exchanges will facilitate development of cooperation in other areas as well. Furthermore, the two sides highlighted the importance of youth exchange programmes for the long-term development of bilateral relations and agreed to expand such exchanges through bilateral consultations.
25. Both sides agreed to designate the third week of November 2004 as ‘Korea Week’ in India and a corresponding ‘India Week’ in the ROK in September/October 2005. This will help raise the visibility of one country in the other, promote mutual awareness and highlight the cultural dimension of their relationship.
26. Both sides expressed their support for the efforts of the international community for a peaceful resolution of the issues of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The Indian side also expressed support for all efforts to bring about peace, stability and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and welcomed the recent developments in inter-Korean relations.
27. Recognizing that the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) is playing a positive role in confidence-building and security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, the two sides agreed to closely cooperate with each other in various areas of ARF activities such as exchanging views on security situation in the Asia-Pacific region, implementing confidence building measures and discussing the future direction of the ARF. Both sides also agreed that India and the ROK, Dialogue Partners of ASEAN, will closely cooperate with it for the development of the region.
28. The two sides reiterated their commitment to continue their fight against terrorism. They agreed that the fight against terrorism has to be a comprehensive and sustained effort. The two sides reaffirmed that terrorism cannot be justified wherever, whenever and for whatever reason and is to be condemned in all its forms and manifestations. They agreed to continue their consultations for expanding cooperation in the fight against international terrorism through various international and bilateral mechanisms.
29. The two sides acknowledged the vital importance of the role of the United Nations in promoting international peace, security and development. They agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in international affairs and to promote their dialogue and consultations on UN related issues, including on the reform of the UN. They also shared the understanding that it is crucial to make the UN Security Council more representative and effective, including through expanding its membership. They agreed to closely work together in this regard.
30. On behalf of the Government and the people of the Republic of Korea, H.E. President Roh Moo-hyun and his delegation thanked the Government and the people of India for the warm and friendly hospitality accorded to them. President Roh Moo-hyun extended cordial invitations to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit the Republic of Korea at a mutually convenient time. The Indian side accepted the invitations with appreciation. The dates of the visits will be decided through diplomatic channels."
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