India, Iran Ink Nine Pacts, Promise to Deepen Socio-Economic Ties
India and Iran signed nine MoUs on cooperation in key areas of security, trade and energy.
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Video Editor: Vivek Gupta
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held "substantive" talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to boost cooperation in key areas of security, trade and energy, after which the two sides inked nine pacts, including one on double taxation avoidance.
The two leaders also deliberated on regional situations during their wide-ranging talks.
"Both leaders held substantive & productive discussion on cooperation in trade & investment, energy, connectivity, defence & security & regional issues," External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
Addressing a joint press event with Rouhani, PM Modi said the visit by the Iranian president shows how the two sides want to deepen cooperation in key areas, including connectivity.
Giving details of their comprehensive talks, Modi said they discussed threats posed by terrorism, drug trafficking and other challenges.
On his part, Rouhani said, "We are determined to combat terrorism and extremism." The Iranian leader also said that regional conflicts must be resolved through diplomacy and political initiatives.
After holding wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rouhani, trying to reflect on growing congruence in bilateral ties, said the two sides deliberated on a range of pressing bilateral, regional and international issues but did not disagree on even a "single topic".
Asked whether India raised the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir during today's talks, officials in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that there was an understanding on how India was a victim of terrorism, indicating that it figured in the deliberations.
Rouhani said he and Modi had very good discussions on stepping up cooperation in a number of key areas including oil and gas as well as on crucial connectivity projects like development of the Chabahar port.
(With inputs from PTI)
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