JERUSALEM, July 5:
Voicing their common concern over the growing menace of terrorism and radicalism, India and Israel today agreed to cooperate to protect their strategic interests and called for strong measures against terror groups and their sponsors.
India has suffered first-hand violence and hatred spread by terror groups so as Israel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after holding wide-ranging talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on the second day of his landmark visit.
Modi said during their talks he and Netanyahu agreed to do much more together to combat terrorism to protect their strategic interests.
Later, a joint statement said the two leaders recognised that terrorism poses a grave threat to global peace and stability and reiterated their strong commitment to combat it in all its forms and manifestations.
“They stressed that there can be no justification for acts of terror on any grounds whatsoever,” it said.
The leaders asserted that strong measures should be taken against terrorists, terror organisations, their networks and all those who encourage, support and finance terrorism, or provide sanctuary to terrorists and terror groups, it said.
Both leaders also committed to cooperate for the early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), the statement added.
“Our goal is to build a relationship that reflects our shared priorities and draws on enduring bonds between our peoples,” said Modi, who is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel.
Meanwhile, India and Israel today signed seven agreements to increase cooperation in key sectors like space, agriculture and water conservation after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held in-depth talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed for setting up of USD 40 million worth India-Israel Industrial Research and Development (R&D) and Technical Innovation Fund.
Prime Minister Modi said, “we are of one view that together our scientists and researchers would develop, build and implement mutually beneficial solutions in the field”.
“Our decision to establish a bilateral Technology Innovation Fund worth USD 40 million for research in industrial development will help us in achieving this goal.
“We regard thriving two-way trade and investment flows as the bedrock of a strong partnership. Prime Minister Netanyahu and I agreed on the need to do more in this direction. Businesses on both sides should take primary lead in such efforts,” he said.
In the water sector, two agreements were signed to increase cooperation on water conservation and State water utility reform in India.
Modi said that Israel is among the leading nations in the field of innovation, water and agricultural technology and “these are also among my priority areas in India’s development”.
“We agreed that efficiency of water and resource use; water conservation and its purification; productivity increases in agriculture are key areas in deepening our bilateral cooperation,” he said.
In the agriculture sector, the two countries have agreed for India-Israel Development Cooperation – a three-year work programme in agriculture from 2018 to 2020.
They also agreed for cooperation regarding cooperation in atomic clocks.
Besides, separate MoUs were signed on cooperation in GEO-LEO optical link and cooperation in Electric Propulsion for small satellites.
Modi also said that during their talks he and Netanyahu agreed to to do much more together to combat terrorism to protect their strategic interests.
Modi today called on Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties and how Israel’s cutting-edge technology could help the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Describing Israel as a real friend, Modi recalled Rivlin’s visit to India in November last year.
Hailing the ties between the two nations, Modi said: “…Today it is ‘I to I and I for I’. When ‘I say I for I, I don’t mean the popular saying but what I mean is India with Israel, India for Israel”.
Modi, who arrived in Tel Aviv yesterday for a three-day visit, met Rivlin at his residence here.
“The President of Israel welcomed me so warmly, he broke protocol. This is a mark of respect for the people of India,” Modi tweeted.
“It is a privilege to meet President Rivlin again today. I fondly recall his visit to India last November when he charmed us with his affable manner and desire to do more with India,” Modi wrote in the guest book at the President’s residence.
“President Rivlin is admired in India for his unstinting belief and common good of mankind, I thank him for his friendship and his warm hospitality,” wrote Modi, who is the first India Prime Minister to visit Israel.
Modi said during his visit to India, Rivlin started a phrase ‘Make with India’ and “I feel since my arrival yesterday that has been echoed by many people and I think what you started has now percolated to all levels”.
Rivlin on his part described Modi as one of the greatest leaders in the world.
“We have a lot in common and doing a lot in common. We understood very well about your thought about the need to help partners who will ‘Make in India’,” Rivlin said.
“…We are doing a lot in order to fulfill your ideas about ‘Make in India’,” the Israeli President said.
“We only suggested some projects that may be we can do with India and I know that you have accepted that and appreciated that very much,” he said.
Rivlin said there was a scope for cooperation between universities and industries of India and Israel.
“The….People in Israel are trying to find ways to invest in India and to make mutual projects together,” he said. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
