NICOSIA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus and India signed agreements aimed at further enhancing their "special ties", the presidents of the two countries said after talks in Nicosia on Monday.
The talks were part of an official visit to Cyprus by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, the first visit by India's Head of State in nine years. It followed a visit by President Nicos Anastasiades to India last year.
Kovind said at a joint press conference that the agreements were part of efforts to further enhance the already "special ties" between the two countries dating back to the 1960s.
He added that Cyprus and India enjoyed close relations as a result of the personal friendships of their leaders at the time, Mahatma Gandhi of India and Archbishop Makarios of Cyprus, both imposing figures of the Non-Aligned Movement.
The agreements signed, they said, are in the fields of economic and commercial cooperation, merchant shipping, tourism, sustainable development, dealing with climate changes, with special emphasis on financial intelligence and IT.
Kovind spoke of the unwavering support of India for a solution to the Cyprus problem ending the 44-year long of partition of the eastern Mediterranean island, for which President Anastasiades expressed gratitude and appreciation.
Kovind also addressed a special session of the Cypriot parliament, after laying flowers at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi next to parliament's building.
