Thursday, January 20 2005 17:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Marking a new dimension in their ties, India and Chile today (Jan 20, 2005) signed a framework agreement for economic cooperation and agreed to explore prospects for stepping up cooperation in defence, agriculture, forestry, mining and education.

The framework agreement, signed in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Chilean President Ricardo Lagos, will be followed up by a PTA by this year. The two sides will then firm up a comprehensive economic cooperation pact.

Singh and Lagos held extensive parleys on regional and international issues of mutual interest and noted that there was understanding and similarity on views on many current issues, a joint statement issued in New Delhi said.

The two sides inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Chilean Agricultural Research Institute (CARI) and another MoU on Sanitary and Phytosanitary issues between the two Agriculture Ministries.

Lagos, on a five-day State visit, met President A P J Abdul Kalam and External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh.

Chile has shown interest in purchase of advanced light helicopters and defence items from India. The Chilean Defence Minister is expected to visit India in April this year.

New Delhi attaches considerable significance to its relations with Chile, which has expressed support to India for permanent membership of the UN Security Council (UNSC).