India-Israel Ties: Both sides vow to deepen cooperation in various fields

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Let's turn to India now, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on a six-day visit to the country. It is the first time that an Israeli leader has visited India in 15 years. Cooperation in various fields, including trade and innovation, top the agenda of bilateral talks. CGTN's correspondent Shweta Bajaj has the story.

It's being seen as a historic visit. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was received by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself.

The first day saw delegation level talks between both the countries.

SHWETA BAJAJ NEW DELHI The key focus of the talks was bilateral trade and people to people contact. Agreements were signed in the areas of oil and gas, startups, cyber and films. In fact the Israeli Prime Minister will also be traveling to India's financial capital Mumbai which is also home to India's film industry Bollywood.

India and Israel have decided to strengthen the existing pillars of cooperation in areas such as agriculture, technology, counter terrorism, innovation and security.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU PRIME MINISTER, ISRAEL "Israel is a fountainhead of innovation, it's a global force of technology. India abounds with creativity, with ingenuity, with scientists, with mathematicians and I think when we join our respective talents together we can achieve tremendous things for our people."

Netanyahu is only the second Israeli Prime Minister to visit India. His visit comes 6 months after Narendra Modi visited Israel. He was the first Indian Prime Minister ever to do so.

NARENDRA MODI PRIME MINISTER, INDIA "Prime Minister Netanyahu and I reviewed the progress in our relations and renewed our conversation on the possibilities and the opportunities that beckon us and need to be seized. Our discussions were wide-ranging and intensive. They were marked by the desire to do more."

Only recently though Israel's Rafael lost a deal worth 500 million dollars that included sale of its missiles to the Indian army. The sale did not go through as India is looking at complete technology transfer to boost its Make in India plan. India wants companies to manufacture in India. Talks are on to revive the deal.

Meanwhile Modi also asked Israeli defence companies to Make in India.

Netanyahu will have extensive meetings spread over the next few days.

Shweta Bajaj, CGTN, New Delhi, India.