Newdelhi: India and Iraq today agreed to enhance cooperation including in oil production, exploration and in joint ventures in diverse areas. President Pranab Mukherjee held talks with the visiting Iraq Prime Minster Nouri Al Maliki this morning.President Mukherjee said, with the emergence of democracy in Iraq relations between the two countries are entering a new phase.

He said Iraq has become India’s second largest crude supplier engaged in a mutually beneficial partnership.He said, India desires to elevate the relationship from a buyer-seller into a broad based one with equity partnership in oil production, joint ventures in oil exploration,petro chemical complexes, fertilizer plants etc.

He said, the different MoU’s to be signed today would establish the institutional framework to enhance co-operation between the two countries.

India and Iraq are to sign key agreements on energy cooperation after delegation level talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his visiting Iraq counterpart Nouri Al Maliki at the Hyderabad house in New Delhi this evening.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh extended his warm greetings to his Iraqi counterpart during the ceremonial reception accorded to the visiting dignitary at the Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning.

Mr. Maliki also paid floral tributes this morning, at the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. The Iraqi Prime Minister will also hold talks with Vice President Hamid Ansari and the Leader of the opposition in the Lok Sbha Mrs. Sushma Swaraj later in the day.

It is the first high-level bilateral visit between the two countries in 38 years. The Iraq Prime minister Nouri Al Maliki is accompanied by a high-level delegation including ministers of oil, health and agriculture and the head of Iraq’s national investment commission. The visiting dignitary will also interact with captains of indian industry and visit Agra and Mumbai as well during his visit.