Vice-President's Romania tour 'unqualified success'

Ties between India and Romania are expected to get a major impetus following the first ever Vice-presidential visit to the east European country by Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

During his four-day visit, which concluded on Tuesday, the former communist country underlined the need for defence
cooperation with India. The two sides also identified energy, automotives, Information technology, heavy machinery,
pharmaceuticals, tourism and real estate as some of the sectors that needed focus.

India, Romania see promise in ties

They also agreed to expand cooperation in defence, energy sectors as also bilateral trade.

Briefing reporters at the conclusion, Secretary (West) Shashi U Tripathi said the visit had been an "unqualified success."

Shekhawat will leave for Belarus later in the day on the second leg of his three-nation tour that would also take him to Armenia.

During Shekhawat's parleys with President Traian Basescu, Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu and Speaker of the Senate Nicolae Vacaroiu, the Romanian leaders underlined the need for greater Indian participation in their country urgently to reap the rewards after the country's accession to the European Union.

Romania also invited President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to visit their country with Shekhawat also extending the invitation to the Romanian President, Prime Minister and Senate Speaker to come to New Delhi.

Romanian Economy and Commerce Minister Ioan Codruit Seres, who called on the Vice President, said there was need for defence cooperation between the two countries. Seres, who is visiting Delhi later this month, is expected to bring concrete proposals.

Bucharest, which had earlier helped New Delhi in setting up projects like refineries, evinced interest in cooperation in the energy sector. It was enthusiastic over the recent visit of Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer.

The Vice-President also visited the Palace of Parliament, the largest Parliament building in the world and the second largest complex on earth after the Pentagon and observed the multi-party democracy at work.