Singapore: Consolidating regional security, India and Singapore have agreed to explore the possibilities of signing an extradition treaty, an agreement on mutual legal assistance on criminal matters and establishing a joint working group (JWG) on combating terrorism and organised crime.

Winding up his 3-day visit to Singapore, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani on February 5 said his discussions with Singaporean leadership on regional security "underlined our shared view that terrorism has no justification and must be eliminated".

"We re-stated our commitment to countering this grave threat to Democratic, multi- religious and multi-cultural societies such as ours. we condemn the recent terrorist acts in South and South East Asia. We are convinced that all nations should extend full co-operation in rooting out terrorism," he said in a statement.

Advani, who met Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Deputy Premier Lee Hsien Loong, President S R Nathan and Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, said, "We have agreed to explore the possibility of entering into an extradition treaty, a mutual legal assistance treaty on criminal matters and establishing a joint working group on combating terrorism and organised crime.

"We agreed on the need for India to reinforce its bilateral relations with the countries of South East Asia and for an active institutional relationship with its regional association.

"We also underlined the utility of the offer made by India at the first India-ASEAN summit for a free trade area. The task force has already met once, and we look forward to its timely implementation," Advani said.

Describing his visit to Singapore as "very satisfying", Advani said, "We attach importance to regular high-level exchanges of visits. These provide an opportunity to further strengthen our political dialogue and economic co-operation, and to address current issues of mutual interest."

He said in his discussions in Singapore, "I found a broad measure of agreement on the importance of the timely work of the joint study group on the Comprehensive Economic Co-operation Agreement between India and Singapore. This will be presented to the two Prime Ministers when Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong visits India in April this year.

"In our exchanges, we have also discussed ways to enhance trade and investment. We have identified several areas for co-operation, including tourism, Information Technology and life sciences," Advani said.

"In the field of bio-technology, which was discussed during the visit of the Prime Minister of India to Singapore last year, we agreed to work closely for the early fruition of the project," he said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said, "We also seek to enhance co-operation in the tourism sector. Minister George Yeo has invited the Minister of Tourism of India to visit Singapore to identify specific areas of co-operation in this sector."

"We also hope to see an early meeting of the working group on tourism."

Advani said he has invited his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong to visit India to continue the dialogue. "He has accepted the invitation. Dates will be finalised through diplomatic channels," he said.

PTI