NEW DELHI - India and Uzbekistan signed pacts on Tuesday to increase cooperation in education, trade and defense with an emphasis on counter-terrorism and joint military exercises.
The agreements were signed after talks between Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Karimov, who is on a three-day visit to India, also held talks with Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Foreign Minister Natwar Singh.
As part of the defense agreement signed in New Delhi, both sides will exchange military expertise, conduct regular joint military exercises, train together and explore the joint production of military equipment.
"There was common concern regarding terrorism. There was an understanding that there needs to be collective action against terrorism," said Indian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Navtej Sarna after the pacts were signed.
Karimov also invited India's state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp. (ONGC) and Gas Authority of India Ltd. (GAIL) to invest in his country's energy sector, Sarna said.
Energy-hungry India, which imports 70 percent of its fuel needs, has been scouring the world for new supplies to keep its fast-growing economy on track.
ONGC Videsh, which has already invested in Russia, Iran, Vietnam and Sudan, is now looking to invest at least three billion dollars to buy stakes in oilfields and gasfields in several other nations including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kuwait, Bangladesh, Yemen, Qatar and Ecuador.
Karimov also discussed economic issues including direct exports of gold and cotton to India from Uzbekistan.
India and Uzbekistan enjoy friendly ties and two-way trade last year was worth 150 million dollars.
04/05/2005 14:53 GMT