Wednesday, June 29 2005 11:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrived in New Delhi last night (Jun 28, 2005) on a three-day visit during which the two sides will sign two accords on stepping up economic cooperation and assisting each other on criminal matters.

On his first visit to India after assuming office last year, Lee, heading a high power delegation, was warmly received at Delhi airport by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rao Suresh Pachauri and Rajiv Sikri, Secretary (East) in the External Affairs Ministry.

He is accompanied by Foreign Minister George Yong Yeo, Trade and Industry Minister Lim Hng Kiang and Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan.

The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) is an integrated package comprising an FTA, a bilateral agreement on investment promotion and protection, an improved double taxation avoidance agreement and a work programme of cooperation in healthcare, education, media and tourism.

The Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty in Criminal Matters seeks to provide the widest level of such cooperation between the two countries.

The agreements will be signed after talks between Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi today (Jun 29, 2005).

The two Prime Ministers will discuss a range of bilateral and multilateral issues including the exchange of visits, trade and economic cooperation, CECA, security and Defence cooperation, regional cooperation within Asean framework and UN reforms.

During his stay, Lee will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam, Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi besides having meetings with Ministers of Finance, Commerce and Industry. He will also have a meeting with leader of Opposition L K Advani.

Lee will address a business luncheon meeting organized by Confederation Of India Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI) and Assocham tomorrow (Jun 30, 2005) on the theme "India's engagement with South East Asia".

New Delhi is attaching significance to Lee's visit, his first to the country after assuming office last year (2004).