By IRNA
New Delhi : India and the Philippines have signed a joint declaration to cooperate in fighting international terrorism and several agreements to strengthen bilateral ties in various fields.
The agreements were signed after talks between the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the visiting President of the Philippines Ms.Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in New Delhi Friday.
Under the declaration on combating terrorism, the enforcing agencies of the two sides will share information and cooperate in capacity building and prevention of financing of terrorist acts. The two countries consider acts of terrorism in all their forms and nifestations as a threat to the international peace and security and feel that a concerted action is required in this regard.
Apart from an agreement to set up a joint commission, a declaration on the framework on the bilateral cooperation was also inked by the two sides. This envisage cooperation in sectors like IT, mining, defence, security, science, renewable energy, health and
pharmaceuticals, agriculture and some other areas.
Six MoUs were signed including the ones on cooperation in the area of health and medicine and renewable energy.
The four other MoUs signed are on the Exemption of Visa Requirements for Diplomatic Passport holders and cooperation between the the Foreign Service Institutes of India and the Philippines.
A memorandum of understanding between the Exim Bank of India and the Philippines government and a between the State Trading Corporation of India and the Philippines International Trading Corporation were also signed.
Earlier talking to newsmen after a ceremonial reception accorded to her in Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning the Philippines President, said that her country is keen to strengthen economic relations with India.
She said, as a fast growing economy in the world, India has a great responsibility towards East Asian countries and her neighbours in the economic, political and security fields.