PM Modi to look into double taxation agreement with Cyprus

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has assured Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades that he would look into the double taxation agreement to see how he could expedite it and said that Nicosia has always stood by New Delhi on all issues of 'mutual concern'.

"The Cyprus President said that the nation had regarded India as one of its strongest friends and would like to continue this relationship which has been strong since the days of the non-alignment movement," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Vikas Swarup said here.

President Anastasiades extended his gratitude towards India and said that he was looking to visit India once again.

He also referred to the possibility of the signing of a shipping agreement, revision of the air service agreement and MOU on tourism and the possibility of cooperating with India in the area of high technology.

"There was a discussion on the refugee crisis and the Prime Minister wanted to understand how Europe was tackling this crisis, what the possible solution was and how it was impacting the countries in the region," Swarup said.

There was also a discussion on the investment agreement with Europe on the 'Bilateral Trade And Investment Agreement' with the EU to which Prime Minister Modi expressed his disappointment that 700 drugs from India had been held up on the report of one inspector and that had created an 'avoidable obstacle' in the progress of this particular agreement.

Then was a discussion on the UN Security Council reform and the possibility of India becoming a permanent member to which the Cyprus President reiterated his stand that he would like to see India become a 'permanent member of a permanent and reformed council'.