PM'S STATEMENT AT PRESS INTERACTION AFTER BILATERAL TALKS WITH
PRESIDENT OF KAZAKHSTAN
The Prime Minister
Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee made the following statement during
a press interaction after bilateral talks with the President of
Kazakhstan, Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev, in Almaty today:
"Your excellency
President Nursultan Nazarbayev, I am delighted to be in this beautiful
city of Almaty. Although this is my first visit to Central Asia
as Prime Minister, our two countries have had the tradition of
a regular dialogue and interaction at the highest level. In February
we were honoured by the President’s visit to our country.
We have had wide-ranging
discussions today on the strengthening of the multifaceted relationship
between India and Kazakhstan. In recent years, we have been channelizing
our historical friendship into political and economic co-operation
relevant to the contemporary era.
We shared views
on important issues of regional and global concern. Naturally,
we discussed the tension in South Asia which cross-border terrorism
has created. We have the same perspectives on firmly countering
international terrorism. We have agreed today to set up a Joint
Working Group for cooperation against terrorism. I am happy that
the CICA Summit will also issue a declaration tomorrow condemning
international terrorism.
I conveyed to
President Nazarbayev India’s warm appreciation of his farsighted
initiative for confidence building in Asia through CICA.
We deeply appreciate
Kazakhstan’s support for a Permanent Seat for India in the UN
Security Council. We also appreciate the full understanding expressed
by Kazakhstan of our perspectives on tensions caused by terrorism.
We agreed on the enormous
potential for intensification of our economic co-operation. India
is prepared to make a major investment in the oil and gas sector
in Kazakhstan, as we did last year in the Sakhalin oil field of
Russia. We have agreed to promote joint ventures in Information
Technology. India will extend full support to the establishment
of a Software Technology Park in Kazakhstan. We have also agreed
to upgrade our co-operation in the pharmaceuticals sector and
in small-scale industries. Our agreement to promote tourism will
enrich bilateral relations through closer people to people exchanges.
Our military technical co-operation should expand beyond a buyer-seller
relationship into transfer of technology, research and development.
The presence of
the Ispat group in Kazakhstan is a good beginning for greater
Indian economic presence in this country. We are happy that more
and more Indian companies are setting up representative offices
in Kazakhstan. The large business delegation accompanying me on
this visit reflects the growing interest in forging closer links
between the business communities of the two countries.
The several hundred
Indian students in Kazakhstan endeavour to build a long-term relationship
of friendship and trust with Kazakhstan, encompassing co-operation
in several spheres, for the benefit of our peoples and for peace
and prosperity in our region.
Thank you."