New Delhi, August 1
India and South Korea today decided to develop the strategic dimensions of their partnership and chalked out a roadmap for achieving this objective within a specific timeframe.

This was decided during wide-ranging talks between South Korea’s visiting Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Ban ki-Moon, and his Indian counterpart K. Natwar Singh at Hyderabad House late this evening.

Mr Natwar Singh conveyed India’s interest in joining the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and sought Seoul’s support to help India contribute in this project. The Korean side agreed to consider the request earnestly and consult with other parties to the ITER.

The two sides also discussed the forthcoming East Asia Summit and decided to closely work together to ensure success of this initiative. New Delhi and Seoul agreed to continue their consultations for expanding cooperation in the fight against international terrorism and to work towards early conclusion of the draft Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. They reaffirmed that terrorism cannot be justified “wherever, whenever and for whatever reason” and must be condemned in all its forms and manifestations. Both sides agreed that the first meeting of the Foreign Policy and Security Dialogue between them, held here in January last, was very useful and productive and the second meeting of the dialogue will be held in Seoul in the first quarter of 2006.

The two Asian powers decided to strengthen cooperation through putting in place institutional framework and regular service-to-service exchanges at senior and middle levels to generate confidence between the two sides, regular ship exchanges and conduct of joint exercise as also cooperation in areas like anti-piracy and search and rescue operations, exchange of training delegations, mutual visits to defence establishments and industries connected with defence production.

Both sides agreed that there was a fair amount of overlap in the interests of the two countries, including in areas such as security of sea-lanes of communications and decided to expeditiously conclude negotiations on an agreement between the two coast guards.

The two sides decided to arrange a visit of the President of India to Korea in early 2006, and visits by the Prime Ministers of the two countries at mutually convenient dates. Moreover, both sides agreed to schedule regular ministerial-level exchanges, including between their Trade, Finance, and Information Ministers. The two sides also agreed to set up dialogue on new topics, including energy security.