India, Thailand sign six agreements in education, defence & other sectors

• India and Thailand on Wednesday signed six agreements including Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty. Other agreements include treaty on Transfer of Sentenced Persons, Defence cooperation, Framework Agreement for Establishing bilateral Free Trade Area , Cooperation in Science & Technology, Cultural Exchange and MoU between Chulalongkorn University and ICCR for setting up a Chair at the India Studies Centre of the University.
• Both the sides also decided to conclude the comprehensive agreement on trade in goods, services and Investments by mid 2012 to further enhance economic links between the two countries.
• Ms. Yingluck Shinawatra will also be the Chief Guest at the 63rd Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi on Thursday. 
• Ms. Yingluck said that she has urged Dr. Manmohan Singh to set up India-Thailand Foundation to increase people-to-people contact. The visiting dignitary said that the Thailand pledges 100,000 US Dollars for the renovation of Nalanda University
• In a joint statement, India welcomed Thai investments into sectors like infrastructure , computer hardware, automobile, food processing and power generation, as well as tourism and hospitality facilities in the Buddhist circuit. The Thai Prime Minister invited Indian investments to Thailand in information technology, manufacturing, electronics and automotive industry.
• The two sides agreed to explore possibilities of collaboration between their oil and gas companies in Exploration and Production opportunities in Thailand and India, as well as in third countries. 
• Both sides noted that the increasing menace of terrorists, criminals, arms and drug traffickers trying to use this region for nefarious activities provided an added urgency to strengthen cooperation in security and intelligence exchange. 
• It was agreed that a five-year Joint Working Programme on specific elements of cooperation would be finalized urgently. The two leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and stressed that there could be no justification whatsoever for any act of terrorism. 
• Recognizing the common threats to national security from transnational crimes, including international terrorism, the two Prime Ministers resolved to significantly enhance bilateral cooperation in combating terrorism, including in restricting transnational movement and unauthorized stay of known terrorists in each other's countries.
• The two sides will also expedite the ongoing negotiations on Bilateral Extradition Treaty and the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty on Civil and Commercial Matters.