India, Thailand sign six key accords

New Delhi, Jan.26 (ANI): India and Thailand have inked six pacts in key areas, including defence, security and economy.

The agreements were inked after bilateral talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday evening.

Both countries agreed that there was a need to elevate the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership for mutual benefit.

"Developing close relations with Thailand is an important component of our Look East Policy. Strong India-Thailand relations contribute to peace, prosperity and stability in the region," Dr Singh said at a joint media event with Shinawatra last night.

Emphasising the need to step up bilateral cooperation and exchanges in the fields of defence, counter-terrorism and security, Singh said he underlined to Shinawatra the need to put in place a bilateral legal framework to deal with "non- state actors and subversive elements" that pose a common threat to both our societies.

"In this context, we have concluded an Agreement on Transfer of Sentenced Persons", Dr Singh said.

Both leaders noted that the increasing menace of terrorists, criminals, arms and drug traffickers trying to use this region for their nefarious activities provided an added urgency to strengthen cooperation in security and intelligence exchange, a joint statement said.

They also agreed that a five-year Joint Working Programme on specific elements of cooperation would be finalized urgently in this regard. The two leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stressed that there could be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism.

To strengthen economic links between the two countries, they reaffirmed their resolve to conclude the bilateral Comprehensive Agreement on Trade in Goods, Services, and Investments by mid-2012. (ANI with inputs)