India, Kazakhstan to enhance collaboration to expand economic relationship
Almaty. April 18. Kazakhstan Today - India and Kazakhstan have agreed to enhance collaboration in international economic and financial organizations and to use new opportunities arising as a result of integration processes in the global economy for the benefit of both countries, Daily India reported.
"The sides expressed interest in strengthening contacts and coordination in international and regional organizations (UN, SCO, CICA and ACD). They emphasized that continuous strengthening of cooperation in the framework of these multilateral structures should contribute to stability and development in the region and in the world," a joint statement on Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's two-day official visit to the country said.
The sides expressed interest in the early settlement of the Afghanistan situation and positively assessed the contribution by both countries to the reconstruction in Afghanistan.
"They agreed that the global community had rightly noted in the Kabul Communique (July 2010), the importance of ensuring that terrorists were denied sanctuaries. They also underscored the importance of eliminating the narco-trafficking infrastructure that still existed in that country," the statement said.
"The sides further assessed that for peace and stability to be restored, it was essential that renewed efforts were made to sufficiently build up the capacity of the Afghan National Security Forces," it added.
The two nations also reaffirmed their view that international terrorism was a serious threat to global peace and security and condemned those who supported terrorism.
"They strongly condemned the recent act of terrorism (April 11) in the Minsk Metro station, which had led to the loss of several innocent lives and had left hundreds of people injured. They hoped that the perpetrators of this heinous crime would be speedily brought to justice," the statement said.
India highly appreciated the Chairmanship of Kazakhstan of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and noted that the forthcoming jubilee meeting of the Council of Heads of member-states of SCO dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the organization to be held in Astana on June 15 would become a milestone event in the further development of the SCO.
Kazakhstan welcomed India's constructive participation in the SCO as an observer country and expressed support for India's intention to play a larger role in the organization.
India also highly appreciated the initiative of Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbaev to convene a conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia - an important forum for the maintenance of peace, stability and security in Asian continent.
Kazakhstan noted that India had been actively and constructively participating in the CICA.
India further welcomed the forthcoming Chairmanship of Kazakhstan in the 38th Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Conference.
"It expressed confidence that Kazakhstan would play a balanced and constructive role in the functioning of the OIC," the statement said.
Photo: Business Line
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