India and Iraq on Tuesday discussed a wide range of issues to give a new dimension to bilateral ties with focus on bolstering economic cooperation.
This figured at a meeting External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh had with visiting vice president of Iraq Taha Yassin Ramadhan in New Delhi.

The West Asia crisis and other regional, international and issues of mutual concern came up during the 40-minute meeting.
Ramadhan's five-day official visit, the highest level one from Iraq to India in the last 25 years, is part of concerted efforts by Baghdad and New Delhi to forge closer relationship.

During the visit, the two sides will sign a long-term cooperation agreement aimed at further consolidating bilateral ties.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the confederation of Indian industry and its Iraqi counterpart is also expected to be firmed up.

The visit also coincides with the two-day meeting of the Indo-Iraq joint commission on trade and other areas for enhanced cooperation which concluded today. Minutes of the commission's meeting would be signed by the two sides on Wednesday in the presence of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and the Iraqi leader.

Ramadhan is being accompanied by a high-power 17-membe delegation including Oil Minister Amer Mohammed Rashid and deputy foreign minister Nur Al Weiss.


Bureau Report