By IANS
Tripoli : India and Libya have signed several agreements, including one on promoting investments, during Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee's visit to this north African nation.
The agreements were signed in the city of Sert soon after Mukherjee's arrival, the Libyan news agency Jana reported Sunday.
Mukherjee is on his first visit here since becoming foreign minister in 2006. It is also the highest-level visit in 23 years since then prime minister Indira Gandhi was here in April 1984.
"The relations between the two countries are good, and we hope this visit would be successful and contribute to further strengthening of these relations," Mukherjee said on arrival.
Measures to promote cooperation in the economic, energy, investment, cultural, and educational sectors will be the focus of Mukherjee's talks with Libyan leaders here, Jana said.
During the visit, Mukherjee, besides meeting his counterpart Abdul Rehman Shalgem, will also meet Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmudi.
Mukherjee is currently on a four-nation tour that has already taken him to Cyprus. From here, he travels to Germany and Belgium before returning home.
During his meeting with the secretary of Libya's GPC (General People's Congress) for Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation in Sert, Mukherjee reaffirmed India's desire to promote the historic friendly bilateral relations and broaden the prospects of cooperation, especially in the economic, commercial, cultural and joint investment fields.
Three Indian oil majors are actively engaged in Libya's oil and gas sectors, apart from companies that are involved in development and infrastructure projects.
Mukherjee also reiterated India's call for UN reforms, expansion of the UN Security Council, the revival of the Non-alignment Movement, and New Delhi's firm support for the rights of the Palestinian people.
Among the agreements signed is one on promoting, insuring and protecting investments between India and Libya, Jana said.
An agreement on boosting cultural and media ties provides for exchanging information and documents and participating in cultural seminars organised by academic institutions in the two countries.
There will also be exchange of expertise in the areas of libraries and printing and the participation of musical and folk theatre groups in festivals in India and Libya.
The agreement also provides for visits and meetings between media and culture experts, cooperation in training and audio-visual fields, exchange of radio, TV and satellite channels, and for cooperation in the cinema industry.