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India, Switzerland sign two agreements
Monday, 10 November 2003, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI: India and Switzerland Monday signed two agreements on cooperation in science and technology and disaster management.
The agreements were signed following talks here between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Swiss President Pascal Couchepin, who described India as an "important country" for world stability.
Couchepin's visit takes place in the backdrop of the shocking rape of a Swiss diplomat by two unidentified men in the Indian capital last month. Delhi Police is yet to crack the case.
It was not known if the issue figured during Couchepin's talks with Indian leaders but the Swiss embassy here has expressed "full satisfaction" with the police investigations.
Couchepin was scheduled to meet Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani but this was cancelled as Advani had to leave for Male to attend the inauguration ceremony of Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom.
Advani also heads the home ministry, which is in charge of law and order in the capital.
"India is a very important country for the stability of the world, also the country which we must take into account in all negotiations, including WTO," Couchepin, who arrived here Sunday on the penultimate leg of a weeklong visit to this country, said.
"I think it is very important that we know what happens in India, what things the leaders of this great country and we can do together to make this world little better," he added.
He was speaking to reporters after President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam ceremonially welcomed him and his wife Brigitte Couchepin in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan, the presidential palace, with a guard of honour by a smartly turned out inter-services contingent.
Couchepin, whose delegation includes scientists and technologists, visited Bangalore, Hyderabad and Chennai before arriving here.
In Bangalore, he inaugurated an Indo-Swiss scientific seminar and in Hyderabad the Tata Consultancy Service Building designed by Swiss architect Mario Bota. He also paid a private visit to Chennai and Mahabalipuram.
Kalam will host a banquet in honour of Couchepin.
The Swiss president will address a meeting of the Federation Of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FiCCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) before leaving for Mumbai on Tuesday on the last leg of his visit.
He leaves for home Wednesday.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS