New Delhi, October 5
India and the Philippines today signed nine bilateral agreements, including a joint declaration for cooperation to combat international terrorism.

The joint declaration, signed by external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and his Philippines counterpart Alberto G. Romulo, opposes acts of terrorism in all their forms and manifestations as a profound threat to international peace and security which requires concerted action to protect and defend peace and security everywhere.

Another important agreement signed during the state visit of Philippines President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, was a joint declaration on a Framework of Bilateral Cooperation which seeks to establish a partnership between the two countries on the basis of good neighbourliness, cooperation, mutual trust and benefit. The two countries also signed an agreement on the exemption of visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official passports. It envisages allowing entry in either country to diplomatic and official passport holders for a period of 30 days at a time without visas.