Friday, September 9 2005 17:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Beijing: Stepping up efforts against terrorism, India and China have decided to exchange experiences on anti-hijacking, hostage situations and other terror-related crimes.

They have also decided to coordinate positions on anti-terrorism endeavors at regional and multilateral levels as part of a Memomorandum of Understanding (MoU) on information sharing and counter-terrorism signed between them yesterday (Sept 8, 2005) during the visit of Home Minister Shivraj Patil in Beijing.

Patil, who is in China on a five-day official visit, said that the MoU signed between the Ministry of Home Affairs and China's Ministry of Public Security entails for the first time closer cooperation between the security agencies of the two countries in 'controlling' and 'containing' international terrorism.

The two sides have agreed to concretely implement the MoU, Patil told reporters here today (Sept 9, 2005).

Describing his 100-minute discussions with his Chinese counterpart Zhou Yongkang, State Councillor and Minister for Public Security, as 'fruitful', Patil said the two sides had an exchange of view on how to control and contain terrorism which has become a global phenomenon.

The MoU will for the first time allow cooperation in combating international terrorism, including exchange of experiences and information on terrorist activities, terrorist groups and their linkages, official sources said.

The two sides have decided to exchange experiences on anti-hijacking, hostage situations and other terrorism-related crimes, the sources said.

They said India and China have decided to coordinate positions on anti-terrorism endeavors at regional and multilateral levels.

The two sides also decided to cooperate to prevent and suppress transnational crimes such as money laundering, and crime against wildlife, illegal production, distribution and trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, illegal dealing and trafficking in firearms, ammunition and explosives, forgery or passports and visas as well as cyber crime.

The two Ministries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the areas of training and capacity building and enhancing exchanges between law enforcement agencies of the two sides.

They also agreed to cooperate between Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) India and Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) China, in a mutually beneficial manner.

Patil, who concluded his visit to Beijing today, said he was satisfied with the commonality between him and his Chinese counterpart on major issues of common concern.

He also said that the Chinese Public Security Minister has been invited to visit India next year and that the latter has agreed to positively consider the invitation.