New Delhi: Asserting that the fight against terrorism has to be "comprehensive and sustained", India and South Korea today (Oct 6, 2004) agreed to step up joint efforts to tackle the scourge and work closely on UN reforms including making the Security Council more representative and effective.

The two sides agreed to enhance their air connectivity in order to boost trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges and explore ways for improved shipping links.

Resolving to take their bilateral relationship to a higher level in the 21st century, the two sides decided to establish a long term cooperative partnership for peace and prosperity and set up a Joint Study Group to enhance economic linkages covering trade in goods and services, investment flows and other areas.

A joint statement issued in New Delhi at the end of the three-day visit of President Roh Moo-Hyun said the two sides will hold "broad-based" foreign policy and security dialogue covering regional and international security issues besides having bilateral, defence and service-to-service exchanges and interaction on counter-terrorism. Beginning from next year, the dialogue will be held alternately in India and South Korea.

The two sides decided to enhance exchanges and interaction in the defence field. This includes promoting cooperation between their Navies, coast guards and related agencies in areas like anti-piracy and search and rescue operations.

Underpinning the importance of broadening economic and trade cooperation, the two sides set a target of 10 billion dollars for bilateral trade by 2008.

It was decided that the next meeting of the Indo-Korean joint commission co-chaired by the Foreign Ministers would be held in Seoul at an early date.

Recognising Mumbai as an economic and trade centre, Korea has decided to upgrade its office there to a Consulate General at the earliest possible date in 2005.

Both sides expressed their support for the efforts of the international community for a peaceful resolution of the issues of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, the statement said.

On its part, New Delhi backed all efforts to bring about peace, stability and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and welcomed the recent developments in inter-Korean relations.

Noting that the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) played a positive role in confidence-building and security cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, the two countries agreed to closely cooperate with its activities including exchanging views on security situation in the Asia-Pacific region.

The two sides shared the view that the fight against terrorism has been "a comprehensive and sustained effort". They made it clear that terrorism could not be justified for any reason and has to be condemned in all its forms and manifestations.

They agreed to continue their consultations for expanding cooperation in fighting the scourge through various international and bilateral mechanisms.