India, UAE share similar concerns over terrorism, radicalisation: PM Modi

Asserting that India and UAE share similar concerns over terrorism and radicalisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the two countries feel that their growing engagement in countering violence and extremism is necessary for securing the societies.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that he and the visiting Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan exchanged views on developments in West Asia and the Gulf, where both countries have a shared interest in peace and stability.

"His Highness and I believe that our closer ties are of importance, not just to both our countries. They are also of significance to the entire neighbourhood. Our convergence can help stabilize the region. And, our economic partnership can be a source of regional and global prosperity," said Prime Minister Modi.

"We also discussed developments in our region, including Afghanistan. Our shared concern on growing threat from radicalism and terrorism to the safety and security of our people is shaping our cooperation in this space," he added.

Prime Minister Modi said that security and defence cooperation have added growing new dimensions to the relationship between both sides.

"We have agreed to expand our useful cooperation in the field of defence to new areas including in the maritime domain. The MoU on Defence Cooperation, signed earlier today, will help steer our defence engagements in the right direction. We also feel that our growing engagement in countering violence and extremism is necessary for securing our societies," he added in his press statement.

India and the UAE today signed 14 agreements in various areas including defence, maritime transport, comprehensive strategic partnership, shipping, agriculture and allied sector, trade, oil storage and management, energy efficiency, road transport and highways and prevention and combating human trafficking.

The agreements were signed after delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Modi and the visiting Crown Prince at the Hyderabad House here.