India and Spain have agreed to advance their bilateral negotiations on cooperation in nuclear energy, with the European nation stating that it would support New Delhi's early membership of the four multilateral export control regimes.
A joint statement issued by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and her Spanish counterpart Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo said the intent on both sides was to further advance bilateral negotiations on a framework agreement for cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
India and Spain also committed to continue their support for global non-proliferation objectives. In this regard, Spain expressed its support for India's early membership of the four multilateral export control regimes: the Nuclear Suppliers Group, the Missile Technology Control Regime, the Australia Group and the Wassenaar Arrangement.
The statement further said both sides have expressed satisfaction over the longstanding and friendly relations between the two countries, which were based on shared values of democracy, rule of law and fundamental human rights.
The two leaders acknowledged that India and Spain share interests and responsibilities in addressing a broad range of international issues, including peace and security, free and fair trade and an open, just, inclusive and rule-based international order. They also welcomed the transformative economic initiatives introduced recently in both countries, and the significant opportunities they opened up for enhancing bilateral trade and investment.
During his official visit of India, Margallo also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in New Delhi.
India and Spain have a number of bilateral treaties and agreements with each other, with the bilateral trade between the two nations from January to August 2014 standing at USD 3.37 billion.