India, Kazakhstan ink five key agreements to boost ties

India and Kazakhstan signed five key agreements today including a contract for supply of Uranium.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and agreed to work on expanding bilateral trade and relations 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," said Modi.

Both the nations also signed defence pact to boost military and security cooperation.

"We both want to make it stronger, including in defence manufacturing. We welcome the new Memorandum of Understanding on defence cooperation,” Modi added.

The MoU will enhance regular exchange of visits, consultations, training of military personnel, military- technical cooperation, joint exercises, special forces exchanges and cooperation in UN peacekeeping operations.

Modi also hailed the NC "KazAtomProm" JSC-NPCIL contract.

“Kazakhstan 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,” the Indian PM added.

Meanwhile, India and Kazakhstan also noted the growing menace of militancy and released a joint statement on engaging in the fight against terrorism and extremism including exchange of information.

The other pacts included Treaty on Transfer of Sentenced Persons, human resources, cultural exchanges and capacity building.

(Image: PIB)