New Delhi, Nov 19, 2008 - India and Egypt, once partners in developing Helwan HA-300 and Marut aircraft, will cooperate in "peaceful" ventures in outer space.

A Joint Communique issued at the end of three-day visit of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, released simultaneously here and in Cairo, said that the two countries signed five agreements to boost bilateral ties in trade, health, technical cooperation and security.

Both President Mubarak and Indian Prime Minister called for a united and independent State of Palestine "within secure and recognized borders, side by side at peace with Israel as endorsed in the Quartet Roadmap and United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1397 and 1515." Both the leaders condemned terrorism, calling for collective action against it. They also agreed to set up a strategic dialogue at the Foreign Ministers level.

Details of cooperation envisaged in space were not immediately available but it may be noted that India and Egypt were extremely close along with Yugoslavia during the Nehru-Nasser-Tito era in the 1950s and early 1960s. India and Egypt helped each other in the HF-24 Marut and Helwan-300 jet aircraft.

Egypt offered engine technology while India trained Egyptian engineers. India developed the aircraft while Egypt however stopped it just short of production and opted to buy Soviet Mig jets.

Mr Manmohan Singh said, "We have agreed to make up for lost time," and although the bilateral trade had risen to an annual $ 3 billion, it had to grow "to a level that reflects our mutual strengths and complementarities." "We agreed to expand cooperation in priority areas such as hydrocarbons, information technology, agriculture and biotechnology." Mr Singh praised the Egyptian President for his peace efforts and hailed him as "a great statesman and a highly respected world leader." Mr Mubarak was also conferred the Jawaharlal Nehru peace prize by Indian President Pratibha Patil, an award given to distinguished world leaders.

The Egyptian leader thanked India for New Delhi's support of the Palestinian cause as well as India's "key role" in the peace and security of Middle East. He called for "collective action" against terrorism and underlined the need for joint action by developed and developing countries "to reshape the international economic order" in the wake of the meltdown.

Expressing appreciation about New Delhi's support for the Palestinian cause, Mubarak also thanked India for its "key role" in the security of the Middle East. (WAM G WAM/MAB)