TEHRAN / AMN
Officials from India and Iran today inked 12 agreements on cooperation in different fields including building and operating the Chabahar port by India.
It followed the delegation level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani.
Modi, heading a high-ranking delegation, arrived in Tehran on Sunday and was officially welcomed by President Rouhani on Monday morning.
Also, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani arrived in the Iranian capital on Monday morning for signing a trilateral agreement on Chabahar port between Iran, Afghanistan and India.
The other agreements include cooperation in culture, science and technology, library sciences, and cooperation between the exim banks of both the countries. Signing of Chabahar port agreement will further improve trade relations especially between India and Afghanistan After the port would be completely functional, India can directly send its goods to Afghanistan.
After signing of the agreements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his press statement, termed the agreement on developing first phase of Chabahar port as a milestone on bilateral economic ties. Mr Modi said, the port will develop better connectivity among India, Iran and Afghanistan. He said, the port will help in faster economic growth in the region. Mr Modi said, India is committed for the early implementation of the signed agreements today by the two countries.
Noting that peace and stability is crucial in the region, the Prime Minister said India and Iran share the commitment to ensure peace, stability and prosperity in the region. He said both the countries are committed to fight the menace of growing terrorism and extremism.
Mr Modi said the two countries agreed to consult closely and regularly on combating threats of terrorism, radicalism, drug trafficking and cyber crime. Mr Modi said he and President Rouhani also shared concerns at the spread of forces of instability and terror in the region. He also extended an invitation to Mr Rouhani to visit India.
Earlier, in a joint statement with Prime Minister Modi, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said the Chabahar port is a symbol of synergy between both the nations. He said the port can serve as a point of connectivity to different countries.
He said, economic relations between Delhi and Tehran can further be expanded through the project. Dr Rouhani also touched upon commonalities between the two nations and said promotion of Hindi and Persian in both the countries were also discussed.
Mr Rouhani said, both the nations discussed about sharing of intelligence to check the menace of terrorism, as its tentacles are spreading over Syria, Yemen and many other areas in the region. He stressed upon booth the nations to work together to bring peace and stability in the region.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded ceremonial welcome on the forecourts of the Saadabad Palace in Tehran. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this evening.