India and China will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in intelligence sharing and exchange of security-related information during the five-day visit of India's home minister Shivraj Patil to that country beginning Wednesday.

An approval in this regard was given by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), which is the apex body on security affairs, at a meeting chaired by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters Tuesday.

The MoU on intelligence sharing and exchange of security related information is to combat crimes like terrorism. Patil's five-day visit is a bilateral tour at the invitation of Chinese Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang.

On his first official visit to china, the Indian Home Minister will hold talks with Zhou and is likely to meet Premier Wen Jiabao there.

Patil will also visit Beijing Police Training Academy and meet Shanghai Mayor besides attending a meeting on emergency response to calamities.

The issues to figure in the talks are cooperation in fight against terrorism, disaster management and public security.

The visit of the Home Minister is part of the process of continuing high-level bilateral exchanges and will contribute to the further development and diversification of bilateral relations in accordance with the declaration of June 2003 and the joint statement of April 2005.

Source: Xinhua