India and Guatemala have agreed to support each other's candidature for the non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council as they sought to push the 'complementary' and 'not competitive' nature of bilateral relations to a new level.
The decision was taken after Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu held extensive talks with the President Jimmy Morales, Vice President Jafeth Cabrera and Parliament Speaker of Guatemala Alvaro Arzu Escobar here yesterday.
This is the first ever visit of an Indian Vice President to the Republic of Guatemala.
During his talks, both sides agreed to take "complementary" relationship to a new high taking advantage of emerging opportunities in both countries, an official statement said.
India agreed to Guatemala's request for supplying solar panels to its airports. India will also train Guatemalan diplomats, English teachers.
Agreeing to push the 'complementary' and not competitive' nature of bilateral relations to a new level for mutual benefit, India and Guatemala agreed to support each other's candidature for the non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council.
Guatemala will support India's candidature for UNSC membership for 2021-22 while New Delhi will do so for 2031-32 for Guatemala.
Naidu told Guatemalan leaders that "India is keen about enhancing its engagement with Latin America and looks at Guatemala, the most populous and biggest economy in Central America, as the gateway", the statement said.
"My visit to Guatemala is a clear indication of this thinking in New Delhi. Going by trade patterns and consumption needs, we are complementary in nature and not competitors and need to take our relation to a new high taking advantage of emerging opportunities in both countries for mutual benefit," he said.
Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said his country could benefit from the "successful economic story of India" and stressed on the need for improving bilateral engagement in various fields.
Referring to India's soft power, he said he was aware of popular TV serial Kaun Banega Karodpati and films like The Slum Dog Millionaire and The Life of Pi.
He also referred to huge popularity of India-made two wheelers given their quality and after sale service in Guatemala, beating the popular competitors.
During his talks with his Guatemalan counterpart Franco, the two nations agreed that they were facing similar challenges including governance issues, terrorism in different forms, poverty and economic disparities and democracy was the best form of governance to address them.
Franco noted that contrary to the perception, their government was making determined efforts to check corruption and his country was facing a different kind of terrorism in the form of criminal gangs.
Guatemalan Speaker Escobar said, "India's vibrant democracy is a role model in harmonizing vast diversities and offers a lot to learn and India's economic success is equally inspiring".
Naidu suggested setting up Parliamentary Friendship Group to promote interaction among MPs of both sides.
After discussions between the two vice presidents, both the sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding for training of diplomats and a Letter of Intent for training Guatemalan English Teachers in India. These agreements will be valid for three years and will be extended thereafter, if required.
Franco also invited India to send a delegation to the Conference of Ibero America to be held in Guatemala City in November this year which is to be attended by all the Latin American Countries besides Spain and Portugal. This is the first time India got such an invitation for the conference held once in three years, the statement said.
Naidu invited Guatemala to join the International Solar Alliance.
During the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Guatemala, and the Ministry of External Affairs of India through their respective Foreign Service Institutes for strengthening diplomatic cooperation through education was signed.
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