MoUs to be inked with China during Modi visit get govt nod

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to China from tomorrow, government today cleared a number of pacts to be inked with that country, including expansion of cooperation in tourism sector.
The MoUs on mining and mineral sector, tourism and another agreement to renew an arrangement on traditional medicines were cleared in the meeting, chaired by Modi, hours before he leaves for his three-nation tour of China, Mongolia and Korea.
Under the mining and minerals pact, an institutional mechanism between the two countries on cooperation in the field of mining and mineral sector will be set up which will help in exchange of information on resources, laws and policy, encouragement of transfer of technologies and promotion of value addition, a government release said.

The Union Cabinet also cleared a proposal to extend the tenure of an MoU signed with the China State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (SATCM) on cooperation in traditional medicine. The MoU had expired on January 13, 2013 on completion of its validity period of 5 years.
It will enhance bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of "traditional medicine which will immensely benefit both the countries as they are blessed with well-developed scientific systems of traditional medicine", the release said.
During Modi's three-day visit to China, an agreement to expand cooperation in tourism field is also expected to be signed by creating an institutional mechanism.

The main objectives of the agreement is to expand bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector, exchange information and data related to tourism and to encourage cooperation between tourism stakeholders including hotels and tour operators, among others.

The agreement is also aimed at setting up exchange programmes for cooperation in human resource development and attract investment in the tourism and hospitality sectors.
Modi, who is undertaking his first visit to China as Prime Minister, will tomorrow reach the ancient city of Xi'an, the home town of President Xi Jinping, for a summit meeting. He will hold talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang in Beijing on Friday on an entire gamut of bilateral ties.

The Cabinet also cleared a slew of MoUs to be inked during Modi's stay in Mongolia and Korea which included a pact on transfer of sentenced persons between India and the Mongolia as also border guarding, policing and surveillance.
With Korea, the pacts included maritime security and in energy sector.