Thaindian News

New Delhi, Feb 14 (IANS) Amid China’s bid to step up ties with the Indian Ocean archipelago nation, India and Seychelles Tuesday signed three pacts for the supply of coastal surveillance radar systems and Dornier aircraft that will enable the island nation to combat piracy more effectively.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna and his Seychelles counterpart Jean-Paul Adam held wide-ranging discussions on international, regional and bilateral issues and took stock of the current status of the ties between the countries.

Expanding counter-piracy cooperation figured prominently during the talks.

“During the talks, the Indian side reiterated its commitment to continue its support to Seychelles for its security, development, and in its capacity building efforts,” the external affairs ministry said after the talks.

“Both sides emphasised the need to continue joint surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zone of Seychelles and anti-piracy surveillance to ensure safety of the Indian Ocean region,” said the ministry.

The two sides also discussed intensification of trade and investment, and cooperation in culture, hydrocarbon sector, fisheries. The visit of Syechelles foreign minister comes less than a fortnight after President James Alix Michel visited Delhi for the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit. During that visit, the two sides focused on security issues, piracy and ways to expand developmental cooperation between the two countries.

The leader of Seychelles had briefed India about new developments, including the context in which Seychelles last year offered China its harbour for use to refuel and stocking of Chinese warships stationed in the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy operations.

This set the alarm bells ringing in New Delhi, but Beijing later clarified that it will not be a military base, but just a refuelling and supply facility.

Defence cooperation between India and Seychelles, the strategically-located island state, has been growing.