Question : PM OVERSEAS VISITS



(a) the bilateral and multilateral issues discussed by our Prime Minister during his recent overseas tours; and

(b) the agreement signed on the occasion including the terms of agreements ?

Answer given by the minister

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR EXTERNAL AFFAIRS(SHRI AJIT KUMAR PANJA)

(a) Sir, the Prime Minister visited Vietnam from January 7-10, 2001 and Indonesia from January 10-13, 2001.

In Vietnam, among bilateral issues, PM discussed
(i) Trade and investment
(ii) Peaceful uses of nuclear energy,
(iii) Defence and
(iv) Culture & Education, while under Multilateral issues these included :
(i) UNSC membership,
(ii) Indo-ASEAN summit
(iii) Mekong-Ganga Cooperation and
(iv) WTO.

In Indonesia, cooperation in (a) Agriculture, (b) Science & Technology, (c) Information Technology (d) Space, (e) Oil and Natural Gas, (f) Infrastructure, (g) Joint hydrographic survey at the Bengala Strait, (h) Fishing and
(i) Oceanography was discussed. PM briefed the Indonesian President on our initiatives in Jammu & Kashmir. Both leaders condemned fundamentalism and terrorism.

(b) The Agreements signed with Vietnam are
(i) Agreement on Tourism Cooperation
(ii) Protocol extending the Cultural Exchange Programme for 2001, 2002 and 2003,
(iii) MoU on Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy for the period 2001-2002.

The Agreements signed with Indonesia are
(i) Agreement on Cooperative Activities in the field of Defence,
(ii) MoU on the establishment of a Joint Commission on Economic, Trade and Technical Cooperation,
(iii) MoU in the Fields of Science & Technology for the period 2001-2003,
(iv) Work Plan under MoU for Cooperation in the field of Agriculture,
(v) Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 2001, 2002 and 2003.

In addition, some business-to-business agreements (three in Vietnam and five in Indonesia) were also signed.