| July 2008 - News |
| July 2008 |
|
Assad visits India
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad visited India on June 17 to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. Discussions also focused on the role India can play in helping to establish peace in the Middle East. The visit resulted in the signing of three new treaties between Syria and India. These include an agreement on mutual promotion and protection of investments, avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion and increased agricultural cooperation. India has moved to strengthen ties with countries in the Middle East, in particular Syria and Iran, in its search to find new sources of energy to support its rapidly expanding economy. In December 2005, India and China won a joint bid to buy out Petro-Canada’s stake in Syria’s oil fields. Still under US-led sanctions, Syria has looked to India for technical support with its national economy. “India is ready to help Syria in the fields of oil, gas, phosphate and any other projects which benefit Syria and India,” Singh said. |
