India, Cambodia ink four pacts, PM Modi says ready to further strengthen ties

New Delhi: India and Cambodia inked four pacts on Saturday, including one to improve cooperation in prevention, investigation of crimes and legal assistance in criminal matters. A pact on the line of credit from India to fund Cambodia's Stung Sva Hab water resources development project for USD 36.92 million was also signed.

Comprehensive talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Hun Sen were held between the pacts were signed. The two agreed to further enhancing bilateral defence ties, including through exchanges of senior-level defence personnel and capacity building projects.

"We are ready to further strengthen our relations with Cambodia in the coming future. Angkor Wat temple's preservation is the part of the joint cultural heritage of Cambodia and India," PM Modi said.

Discussions were also held on exploring ways to intensify the development partnership and to boost ties in sectors like trade and investment, energy conservation, agriculture, and tourism and culture.

India and Cambodia also signed an MoU on the prevention of human trafficking under which the two countries will seek to increase bilateral cooperation on the issues of prevention, rescue and repatriation related to human trafficking.

They also inked a pact for cultural exchanges through 2018-2020.

The mutual legal assistance in criminal matters seeks to "improve the effectiveness of both countries in the prevention, investigation and prosecution of crimes through cooperation and legal assistance in criminal matters," the pact stated.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India- Cambodia relations go back to the 1st century AD when Hindu and Buddhist religious and cultural influences emanated out of India to various parts of southeast Asia.

Cambodians are predominantly Buddhist but retain a strong influence of Hindu rituals, idolatry and mythology. 

(With agency inputs)