Modi visit: India, Kazakhstan ink five agreements

India and Kazakhstan on Wednesday inked five agreements, including defence, railways and uranium supply, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev here.

Modi, in his media statement after the talks, said he was pleased that the Kazakh president has "responded positively" to his request to consider additional blocks for Indian investments.

"We are pleased to have a much larger second contract for purchase of uranium with Kazakhstan and expanding our civil nuclear cooperation," he said.

"Kazakhstan is our biggest economic partner in the region. We will work together to take economic ties to a new level," he said.

"We both agree that connectivity is an important issue, but one that we will address," he said, according to tweets by external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup.

Modi also thanked Kazakhstan for its "continued support for India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UNSC and for a UN CCIT".

The two sides inked a joint statement, which "noted the rising challenge posed by terrorism in their immediate region, highlighting importance of regular consultations", Swarup posted.

"The leaders welcomed agreements in hydrocarbons, civil nuclear energy, human resources, cultural exchanges and capacity building," he said.

Both sides also agreed to "collaborate closely in the framework of the International North South Transport Corridor and through bilateral initiatives to improve surface connectivity".

The two leaders also welcomed the signing of an agreement on defence and military-technical cooperation, the joint statement said.

"Both Leaders welcomed the organisation of Business Forum with participation of leading CEOs & the creation of a joint Business Council."

"President Nazarbayev noted the importance of India in regional and global affairs and appreciated its contribution to peace and stability," it said.

The joint statement, titled Tej Kadam, also calls for concrete outcomes on UN reform in the 70th anniversary year of the UN.

Source: thestatesman.com