NEW DELHI, 7 November 2006 — Living up to the spirit of the Delhi Declaration inked during Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s India visit as the chief guest for the Republic Day parade, India and Saudi Arabia agreed yesterday to cooperate in the field of science and higher education.
A Memorandum of Scientific and Educational Cooperation Agreement was signed yesterday by the visiting Saudi Arabian Minister for Higher Education Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari and Indian Minister of Human Resource Development Arjun Singh.
The memorandum is valid for five years, starting from the date of its effectiveness. Under the five-year agreement, India and Saudi Arabia will encourage exchange of expertise and experiment in the scientific, technological and administrative fields in higher education institutions, universities and research centers.
The agreement also envisages cooperation in fields of scientific and applied research in general, and in information technology, computer science, mathematics and sciences, and establish joint research teams and work to exchange findings of research and studies. Besides, they shall encourage visits between officials in higher education, teaching faculty and researchers. Special attention shall be given to allow opportunities for training in institutions of higher education and universities in both the countries, particularly in the technical and technological field.
In addition, there will be an exchange of academic scholarships and seats, according to available means, and exchange of books, publications, periodicals, documents, computer programs, films and sources related to higher education and scientific research.
The two countries will also provide each other access to historical manuscripts and documents in their possession.
Heading a 17-member delegation, Dr. Anqari is in India on a five-day visit.
