India, Portugal sign six agreements, including MoU on defence cooperation

NEW DELHI: India and Portugal today signed six agreements - including one on defence cooperation - after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa.
The two nations today also took a veiled dig at China for blocking New Delhi's move at the UN to list Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.
PM Modi said the MoU on defence cooperation will help both nations harness their "respective strengths in this field for mutual benefit."
The other MoUs signed provide for cooperation in the areas of information technology and electronics, agricultural trade (including market access for agricultural products), deeper engagement in renewable energy and marine research.
"We agreed that the two countries must focus on action oriented approach to realize the full potential of economic opportunities in our partnership. The agreements signed today are just one indication of our shared resolve to do exactly that," PM Modi said at a joint press conference after the meet.
PM Modi thanked Costa for his country's support for India's bids to gain permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council, and membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group.
The PM said he and his Portuguese counterpart had reviewed the full range of India-Portugal ties in an extensive discussion, and talked about the rapidly growing threats of violence and terrorism.
Veiled dig at China
A joint statement issued after the bilateral talks between PM Modi and Antonio Costa said, "Recognising the importance of the Central role of UN in combating terrorism, they (the two leaders) exhorted the international community to effectively implement the measures enumerated by the 1267 UN Sanctions Committee."
On December 30, China blocked India's move to list Pakistan-based Azhar as a global terrorist, under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. China, was the only member on the 15-nation Committee to have opposed India's move.
The joint statement said both sides called for strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism in a spirit of 'zero tolerance', underlining that States should not support any terror entity including 'non-state actors' on any grounds.
Business partnerships
PM Modi said expansion and deepening of trade, investment, and business partnerships is a priority that both India and Portugal share.
Both sides also agreed to accord priority to boost start- ups and creating a favourable ecosystems for entrepreneurship.
Antonio Costa is in India on a 7-day visit. He will attend the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Bengaluru tomorrow, and then will travel to Gandhinagar to attend the Vibrant Gujarat summit on January 10.
Costa, who has lived in Goa, said he felt proud for being able to return to India as Portugal's Prime Minister. On this trip, he will visit his ancestral home in Goa .
Inputs from agencies