India, Qatar sign agreements to boost ties in economic, legal sectors

New Delhi, Apr 9 (ANI): India and Qatar on Monday signed agreements in the field of energy, culture, education, finance and legal to strengthen the bilateral ties between the two nations.

India's Oil Minister Jaipal Reddy and Qatar's Energy Minister Mohammed Bin Saleh al-Sada inked agreements in the presence of Qatar's Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The most important agreement was the one related to energy sector as India sought large import of the Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) from Qatar.

The Emir of Qatar, who is on a three-day visit to India, is accompanied by his wife Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al Missned, a high-level ministerial delegation, senior officials and businessmen.

This is the third visit of the Emir to India, the last two being in 1999 and 2005.

He will meet Vice President M Hamid Ansari, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna. Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj will also call on him.

India's relations with Qatar have been historically close and friendly. Qatar also hosts an Indian community of around 500,000 persons. (ANI)