New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi's is addressing a joint press conference with the new Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena.
Here are the highlights:
PM Modi said the following:
- We are honoured that you have chosen India as your first overseas destination
- Congratulate you on your victory
- Your mandate carries the collective voice of Sri Lanka
- India is Sri Lanka's closest neighbour and friend
- Our destinations are inter-linked
- Mr Sirisena and I had an excellent discussion on our bilateral relations
- We are committed to unlock the vast potential of our economic cooperation
- Proud to be Sri Lanka's trade partner
- We agreed to expand our defence cooperation
- Indian assisted projects for internally displaced persons for Sri Lanka have made excellent progress
- We expressed satisfaction with the progress
- Pleased with cooperation on agriculture
- President Sirisena and I attach highest importance to the fishermen issue, will address fishermen associations on both sides soon.
- We will encourage fishermen associations to meet soon
- Solutions must be found to be taken forward
- We are at a moment of an unprecedented opportunity to take our bilateral relations to a new level
- The bilateral agreement on civil nuclear cooperation is another demonstration of our mutual trust