India, Tunisia vow to combat terrorism

India and Tunisia also signed two MoUs on the promotion of handicrafts and IT and digital economy after Vice President Ansari met Tunisian Prime Minister Habib Essid and discussed a range of issues of mutual and regional interests.

The two sides discussed the issue of the spreading tide of extremism and terrorism which is a threat both countries face, Ansari said at a joint press conference with Tunisia Prime Minister Essid. “Successfully dealing with such threats requires strong cooperation among like-minded partners,” he said on Thursday.

“We have discussed the issues related to combating this challenge and decided to enhance our cooperation in the field of counter-terrorism,” Ansari said.

Two MoUs -- one on traditional handicraft promotion and other on IT and digital economy -- were signed after Ansari and Essid held
one-on-one talks which were followed by the delegation-level parleys between the two sides.

India will also train 350 Tunisian students in the next five years, Ansari said, adding that, “We will be happy to receive 350 Tunisian students for training in our institutions in different streams as our guests.”

The two sides will promote each other’s traditional handicraft and increase mutual cooperation in the IT and related sectors, including digital economy, he said.

Ansari said their discussion on bilateral relations focussed on ongoing economic partnership and on incorporating newer areas of collaboration like information technology and education.

“I had substantial discussions covering the entire gamut of our bilateral relations as well as on global issues of mutual concern with Prime Minister Essid,” Ansari said.

“I conveyed to him the felicitations of the people of India to the people of Tunisia on the successful transformation of Tunisia into a vibrant multi-party democracy and conveyed our good wishes for its continued success,” he said.