India, Turkey sign MoUs on culture, training

New Delhi [India], May 2 (ANI): India and Turkey has signed several agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) on several fields. India and Turkey signed Cultural Exchange Program for 2017-2020 A MoU for Cooperation between Foreign Service Institute of India and Diplomacy Academy of Turkey was also signed. An agreement between the Government of The Republic of Turkey and the Government of The Republic of India was signed on gainful occupation for family members of the members of diplomatic mission or consular post. A MoU was signed between Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), India and Information and Communication Technologies Authority (ICTA), Turkey. A cooperation agreement between Press Trust of India (PTI) and Anadolu Agency (AA) of Turkey was also signed. Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed satisfaction with regular high-level contacts between the two countries that provide the much-needed impetus to progressive enhancement and deepening of bilateral ties across the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation. Both the leaders laid high emphasis on people-to-people contact and strengthening cultural linkages between the two nations. The two leaders noted that ties of culture and language - the Sufi traditions, the exchanges and influences of the Turkish language on Hindi and vice versa among other linkages - provide a deep connect between our people. Both Prime Minister Modi and President Erdogan, during the discussions, affirmed that the relationship between India and Turkey was anchored in historical exchanges between the Leaders and the peoples of the two nations. The richly diverse and secular democracies of both nations provide a valuable base to further cement the ties between the two nations. Both the leaders agreed that India and Turkey, being among the top 20 economies in the world with sound economic fundamentals and increasing convergence of positions, could contribute to addressing international issues of mutual interest such as new economic order, stability and security of the respective regions. The two leaders noted that bilateral relations between the two nations have been strengthened by the exchange of high-level visits from both sides. Prime Minister Modi highlighted that Turkish investments in India's manufacturing sector, especially in India's flagship programmes like "Make in India" would be mutually beneficial to both sides. President Erdogan agreed that India's infrastructure requirements and their ambitious vision of developing Smart Cities match well with Turkish capacities in construction industry. Both the leaders agreed that mutual cooperation in the field of IT, pharmaceuticals, health and tourism is beneficial to growth of bilateral trade between the two nations. Both the leaders agreed on the necessity of holding frequent civil aviation meetings to boost bilateral cooperation and discuss the pending issues in that field in order to encourage the people-to-people contacts. They agreed that the new Cultural Exchange Programme would further cement cultural connections and institutional relations. President Erdogan extended invitations to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Modi for visiting Turkey at mutually convenient time. Erdogan thanked President Mukherjee and the Prime Minister for the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation. (ANI)