India, Phillipines agree to cooperate in fight against terror

Cebu, Jan 14 (UNI) India and Phillipines today agreed to work together on strategic matters and in the global fight against terror.

At a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his host Phillipines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo before the fifth India-ASEAN Summit on this central Phillipines island, the two leaders agreed that international terrorism was not only a threat to their countries, but also for the region as a whole.

Dr Singh told Ms Arroyo that the two countries could cooperate in tackling the menace, especially in the area of intelligence-sharing.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan said Dr Singh invited Ms Arroyo to visit India. He said the visit was likely in the first half of this year.

Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath said the two leaders also discussed the progress in the WTO talks and stressed the importance of resuming the stalled process.

He said India was of the view that structural flaws in international trade must be eliminated instead of being perpetuated.

Mr Kamal Nath said the completion of the Doha round of talks was important, but their content was equally crucial.

He said the livelihood security of farmers in developing countries must be protected and the question of the huge subsidies given to the agriculture sector by the developed countries addressed.

UNI