ABUJA, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria and India on Sunday agreed to build a robust strategic partnership, pledging to strengthen ties in key areas including economic development, defense, healthcare, and food security.
During their meeting in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on a two-day state visit to the West African country, agreed to tighter collaboration in counterterrorism, maritime security, and intelligence sharing.
With growing threats in the Gulf of Guinea and the Indian Ocean, the two leaders agreed to coordinate actions to safeguard maritime trade routes and combat piracy, vowing to continue regular naval exercises and joint anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Guinea.
"The leaders reiterated their unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations including the cross-border movement of terrorists and terror financing networks and safe havens," said a joint statement issued at the end of Modi's state visit.
The two countries "called for zero tolerance to terrorism and expeditious finalization and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism in the United Nations (UN) framework as well as implementation of the UN General Assembly and the UN Security Council resolutions on countering terrorism and violent extremism," read the statement.
Modi reiterated India's readiness to support Nigeria's defense modernization efforts.
His visit to Nigeria was the first by any Indian leader in 17 years. ■