UNI

New Delhi, Nov 6: India and Saudi Arabia on Monday agreed to five years of cooperation in the field of science and higher education, envisaging exchange of expertise among other things.

A Memorandum of Scientific and Educational Cooperation Arrangement was signed between the two countries by Union Minister of Human Resource Development Arjun Singh and the Saudi Arabian Minister for Higher Education Dr Khaled Bin Mohammad Al Angari here.

Under the agreement, both the countries will encourage the exchange of expertise and experiment in the scientific, technological and administrative fields in higher education institutions, universities and research centres.

The agreement also envisages cooperation in the filed of scientific and applied research in general, and in information technology, computer science, mathematics and sciences, and establish joint research teams and work to exchange the findings of research and students.

Both the countries shall encourage visit between officials in higher education, teaching faculty and researchers.

They will allow opportunities for training in institutions of higher education and universities in both the countries, especially in technical and technological field.

There will also be exchange of academic scholarships and seats, according to available means, and exchange of books, publications, periodicals, documents, computer programms, films and the sources related to higher education and scientific research.

The two countries will also provide each other access to historical manuscripts and documents in their possession.

They will not use information exchanged between them to any third party without prior consent.

The Memorandum is valid for five years starting from the date of its effectiveness.

The Saudi Arabian Education Minister is leading a 17-member delegation in his official visit to India which began here today.

The invitation to visit India was extended to him by Mr Arjun Singh when he visited Saudi Arabia in June.

Dr Khalid along with his delegation will also visit educational institutions in Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

In the capital, the Saudi Arabian Minister will meet with officials of the University Grants Commission, Association of India Universities, Medical Council of India and Educatrional Consultants Ltd India IIT, Jamia University Vice Chancellor Mushirul Hasan and Vice Chancellor of the Indira Gandhi Open University VN Rajasekharan Pillai and Vice Channcellor of the Jawahar Lal Nehru University B B Bhattacharya.