India and Kazakhstan on Wednesday inked five key agreements including a defence pact to enhance military cooperation and a contract for supply of uranium.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev decided to actively engage in the fight against terrorism and extremism.
Mr. Modi, who held restricted as well as delegation-level talks with Mr. Nazarbayev, noted that they also agreed to work closely to expand bi-lateral trade by addressing structural impediments between India and hydrocarbon-rich Kazakhstan.
“We have shared perspectives on many international issues, including regional peace, connectivity and integration; reforms in the United Nations; and, combating terrorism,” the Prime Minister said at a joint press event in Astana with Mr. Nazarbayev.
Noting that the defence and security cooperation was an important dimension of strategic partnership between the two countries, Mr. Modi said, “We both want to make it stronger, including in defence manufacturing. We welcome the new Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation.”
The MoU would further widen the scope of bilateral defence cooperation including regular exchange of visits, consultations, training of military personnel, military — technical cooperation, joint exercises, special forces exchanges and cooperation in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
Welcoming the signing of a contract between NC “KazAtomProm” JSC and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) for a renewed long-term supply of natural uranium to India to meet its energy requirements, Mr. Modi said, “Kazaksthan was one of the first countries with which we launched civil nuclear cooperation through a uranium purchase contract. We are pleased to have a much larger second contract now. We intend to expand cooperation in other minerals, as well”.
A joint statement ‘Tej kadam’ was also released after talks which said the leaders noted the rising challenge posed by terrorism in their immediate region.
“They agreed to continue their active engagement in the fight against terrorism and extremism including exchange of information,” it said.
Keywords: India-Kazakhstan ties, Nursultan Nazarbayev, Tej kadam, Modi in Kazakhstan
