HE the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi left Doha on Sunday concluding a two-day visit to Qatar.
Modi met with HH the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, as well as HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.
The following is an extract of the joint statement issued in Doha on Sunday:
1. The two sides highly appreciated the active bilateral institutional mechanisms in the fields of trade, investment, energy, defense and workforce, stressing the need to continue to hold meetings of the joint working groups in different sectors on a regular basis in order to enhance cooperation between the two countries.
The two sides agreed to form the Supreme Strategic Committee for Coordination and Follow-up of cooperation between the two countries as well as regional and global issues of common interest.
2. The two sides agreed to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in various fields of common interest, increase bilateral visits of high-level in political, defense, security cooperation as well as trade and economic relations. They also agreed to enhance ties between the two peoples and stressed the importance of building strong bilateral partnership to meet their responsibilities towards promoting peace, stability and security in the region and in the world in the 21st Century.
3. Recognizing that the Defense Cooperation Agreement concluded in November 2008 has provided the framework to strengthen bilateral defense relations, the two sides agreed to enhance them through joint exercises and intensive training for naval, air, ground and coastal defense forces. The Qatari side expressed interest toward the opportunities offered by the “Made in India” Imitative in the field of joint production of defense equipment in India.
4. The Indian side highly appreciated the State of Qatar’s participation in the International Exhibition Fleets and the Defexpo India 2016 on February-March 2016 along with the increased Qatari delegations’ visits to the Indian Navy Coast Guard facilities in India.
The Qatari side expressed appreciation for the participation of an Indian high-level delegation in DIMDEX 2016 in March with guided missile frigates manufactured in India, as well as friendly visits paid to Qatar Navy and Coastguard. It also welcomed India's proposal to organize special training programs for members of the armed forces and the coast Guard in the Republic of India and the State of Qatar.
5. Both sides agreed to intensify cooperation to enhance maritime security in the GCC and the Indian Ocean regions, which is considered crucial for the two countries' security and prosperity.
6. Both sides strongly condemned the phenomenon of international terrorism, all acts of violence, terrorism and extremism.
7. The two sides discussed on further ways to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of cybersecurity, including prevention of the use of cyberspace in support of terrorism, extremism and dismantling the social fabric.
8. The two sides highly appreciated the continued cooperation in the field of security and agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism operations, intelligence sharing, the development of best practices, technologies and capacity building, law enforcement, anti-money laundering, the fight against drug trafficking and other cross-border crimes.
9. The two sides agreed to focus on strengthening cooperation in the field of trade, investment, infrastructure, energy, financial services, health, cultural exchange, tourism, and other vital sectors of common interest.
