Bangkok: India and Thailand today (Oct 15, 2004) agreed to work closely to tackle security issues, particularly those pertaining to terrorism, illegal trade of arms, drugs and piracy, and increase cooperation in aviation and trade.

The security issue figured prominently in talks between External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and his Thai counterpart Surakiart Sathirathai in Bangkok.

Terrorism is a worldwide scourge and recognises no boundaries, Singh told reporters after an hour-long meeting with Surakiart.

He recalled that it was decided at the seven-member BIMSTEC summit in July to jointly combat this scourge in "our area and the world". India and Thailand are among the members of the grouping.

Surakiart said they agreed for closer sharing of intelligence information and coordination in cracking down on the small arms trade, drug smuggling, human trafficking and piracy.

The Thai Minister said the two countries would promote closer aviation links besides working on enhancing bilateral trade.

Singh arrived here on his way to Hanoi, the Vietnamese capital, where he is scheduled to attend the 50th anniversary celebrations of a landmark meeting between first Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh, and also the India-Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting.