EIRNS—Following his meeting with the visiting South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Delhi this week, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi told media that steps have been taken to upgrade the comprehensive economic partnership agreement between India and South Korea. "Seoul’s participation in the ’Make in India’ mission has created many employment opportunities in India," he said, reported Firstpost news website. President Moon is on a four-day visit to India over July 8-11. During his visit, he and Modi inaugurated a Samsung cell phone manufacturing facility in the vicinity of New Delhi, which has been touted as the world’s largest.

The two leaders also signed what is called the Early Harvest Package (EHP) that would lead to an upgraded bilateral Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. "It is the right time to take bilateral relationship to the next level. We will increase the levels of consultations and broaden our scope of understanding," Moon said at a joint press address, The Hindu reported. An official from India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirmed at an official briefing that India and South Korea had agreed to include 11 items in the EHP and duties would be reduced/eliminated for these within a fixed time period.

During their meeting, India and South Korea have discussed capacity building programs which both the countries would like to take in Afghanistan, according to India’s Foreign Ministry Secretary (East) Preeti Saran, The Hindu reported.

Modi also credited Moon for initiating the peace process in the Korean Peninsula. "I believe that the positive environment that has been created is an effort of Moon," he said. New Delhi is also a stakeholder in the peace process and will do its bit to contribute to peace in the region, Modi affirmed, reported Firstpost. [RMA]