Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his visiting Canadian counterpart Paul Martin agreed Tuesday to strengthen the India-Canada partnership and contribute expertise to the creation of a tsunami warning system for Indian Ocean nations.

The two prime ministers underscored the need for a strong and sustained international response to crises such as the Dec. 26 tsunami that claimed some 150,000 lives in Asia, including around 13,000 in India, the Indo-Asian News Service reported.

India and Canada agreed to contribute expertise toward the creation of a tsunami early warning system for the countries of the Indian Ocean in concert with multilateral efforts.

A multilateral initiative for regional warning and natural disaster preparedness was recognized by them as a priority. The two countries also agreed on cooperation in science and industrial technologies and environment.

Martin's two-day visit to India, that began Monday, is the second prime ministerial visit to this country in two years. Former prime minister Jean Chretien visited here in 2003.

The prime ministers agreed to enhance people-to-people links through improved visa and consular services.

They also committed themselves to sustained political engagement, a structured exchange of visits at the cabinet level and to promote dialogues between their officials.

Recent developments in respective regions featured prominently in the talks, notably the transition to democracy in Afghanistan, India's dialogue with Pakistan, the situation in Iraq, developments in Southeast Asia and the Americas.

In order to expand economic ties, India and Canada would also support a CEO Roundtable to make recommendations. An Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement is to be pushed through as per the talks and additional steps would be taken for greater investment and trade, including trade missions.

Bilateral relations between India and Canada have been growing steadily. India and Canada have started investing in each other's country and leading Indian IT companies have a presence in Canada.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2005)