Lok Sabha Question No. 87 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-18
Subject: PM’s Visit
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: POONAMBEN HEMATBHAI MAADAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.87

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.07.2018

## PM's VISIT

87. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Prime Minister (PM) has visited three South East Asian countries recently;
- (b) if   so,   the   details   of   agreements   signed   during   the   said   visits, country-wise, and the benefits accrued/likely to accrue from above agreements;
- (c) whether defence was a priority issue in the   aforementioned visits with   regard   to   Indian   Navy,   coordination,   logistics   and   services support;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the extent of success likely to be achieved in establishing solidarity with   these   countries   especially   keeping   a   view   of   China strategically?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) Yes, Prime Minister visited Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore from 29 May to 02 June 2018.
- (b) Nine Government to Government agreements were signed during Prime   Minister's   visit   to   Indonesia.   These   include   Agreement   for Cooperation in the field of Defence, Framework Agreement on Cooperation in the exploration and uses of outer space for peaceful purposes, MoU on Scientific and T echnological Cooperation, MoU on T echnical Cooperation in Railways Sector, MoU on Health Cooperation, MoU on Pharmaceutical, Biological and Cosmetics Regulatory Functions, MoU on Policy Dialogue, MoU between Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNA)   of   India   and   National   Institute   of   Public   Administration   of Indonesia (NIPA) and Plan of Activities to celebrate 70 years of Diplomatic Relations   between   India   and   Indonesia   in   the   year   2019-20.   These agreements are expected to enhance our collaboration with Indonesia in the areas mentioned above.

With   Singapore,   eight   agreements   were   signed   and   exchanged during the visit of Prime Minister and these include: Conclusion of Second Review   of   Comprehensive   Economic   Cooperation   Agreement,   Mutual

Recognition Agreement on Nursing, Implementation Agreement between Indian   Navy   and   Singapore   Navy   on   Logistic   Support,   an   Agreement between Indian Computer Emergency Response Team and the Singapore Computer Emergency Response Team to cooperate in the field of Cyber Security, MoU between Narcotics Control Bureau of India and Singaporean Central Narcotics Bureau to Combat Illicit Trafficking of Narcotic Drug, Agreement between Ministry of Personnel of India and Public Service Division   of   the   Republic   of   Singapore   for   Cooperation   in   the   field   of Personnel Management and Public Administration, Agreement between Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Government of India and Monetary Authority of Singapore on Constitution of Joint Working Group on Fintech between India and Singapore and an MoU between NITI Aayog and Singapore Cooperation Enterprise on Cooperation in the field of Planning. These agreements are expected to enhance our collaboration with Singapore in the areas mentioned above.

(c) to (e) India has strong strategic, political and cultural relations with all   ASEAN   countries.   Indonesia,   Singapore   and   Malaysia   are   India's strategic partners. Defence and security cooperation is one of the focus areas in our bilateral relations.

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