He came, he saw and won over India
From Ravi S. Jha (Our correspondent)
27 March 2007
NEW DELHI — His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai yesterday assured India’s Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh of UAE’s support to his country on the issue of global terrorism. Shaikh Mohammed assured that the UAE would work hard to strive for Arab-India amity, look into its labour laws to address concerns of millions of manual workers from India. In a meeting, both leaders talked about various issues, including terrorism and Arab politics, top sources told Khaleej Times here.
Dr Singh apprised Shaikh Mohammed of India’s responsibility as a democratic republic, saying New Delhi attaches great importance to the diversification and strengthening of traditional relations with the Arab people and Arab world, including the UAE.
“I extend warm welcome to you Your Highness to India that sees you as one of India’s most understanding allies,” Dr Singh said. “We are a prospering nation, and any thriving political and economic ties with us would have two-way multifarious affect on our people. Our interest in each other would grow up to bring in transformation, a change to adapt in the new world order,” said the prime minister.
Soon after the prime ministerial level meeting at Hyderabad House, both the sides took seat to sign five agreements. The first treaty called a Framework Agreement for Developing Industrial Relations was signed between UAE Minister of State for Finance and Industry Dr Mohammad Khalfan bin Khirbash and India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Kamal Nath. UAE and India agreed on protocol between the two countries, amending the Agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation and Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect of taxes on income. The two countries signed Memorandum of Understandings for technical cooperation.
An MoU for technical cooperation in accreditation activities between National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories and Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology was also signed. Besides, an MoU was also signed between Securities and Exchange Board of India and Emirates Securities and Commodities Authority for assistance and mutual cooperation on the exchange of information.
Earlier, Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee called on to Shaikh Mohammed. They discussed bilateral issues ranging from cooperation in health sectors, defence to science and technology and IT. Mukherjee also acquainted Shaikh Mohammed about India, Pakistan peace process saying the initiative was aimed at achieving what never had been achieved so far.
“We are concerned about terrorism. But more than that what keeps us going is the people-to-people contact and universal bonhomie,” Mukherjee said.
He also talked about India invitation to attend the Arab League Summit being held in Riyadh from tomorrow. India enjoys the observer status in the Arab League. Officials attending the meeting said “India’s participation underlines the policy of enhancing the effectiveness of its relations with the Arab world.”
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