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RIYADH: India and Saudi Arabia signed five agreements, including an extradition treaty, an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons, during Indian PM's three-day state visit to Saudi Arabia.

The agreements was signed by the leaders of both the countries the capital city of Riyadh, in presence of Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, who is in Saudi Arabia on a three-day state visit to Saudi Arabia.

Both leaders held discussions to improve the bilateral relationship in the context of the New Delhi Declaration signed during the king's visit to the Indian capital in 2006.

The leaders also agreed to reinforce the measures to counter militancy and tackling international crimes.

The extradition treaty was signed by federal health and family welfare minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Prince Naif Bib Abdulaziz, second Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister, which will further enhance security cooperation.

"Apart from the historic Riyadh Declaration, both sides signed five agreements in the presence of the Prime Minister and his majesty, the king. The first was the Extradition Treaty; briefly, this treaty will further enhance the existing security cooperation between the two countries and will help authorities in apprehending sentenced people in each other's countries.

Secondly, on sentenced persons, this will be of assistance in the case of those serving prison sentences. We hope that this treaty will facilitate the transfer of Indian prisoners back to India where they could serve the remaining sentence," said Latha Reddy, Secretary (East) in the external affairs ministry.

Besides, four other agreements were signed which include cultural cooperation.

Also, Memorandum of understanding was signed between Indian Space Research Organization and King City for Science and Technology for cooperation in peaceful use of outer space.

India and Saudi Arabia agreed in 2006 to develop a strategic energy partnership to boost ties between Asia's third-largest consumer and the world's top oil exporter.

The deal sought to increase the export of Saudi oil to India, which already accounts for a quarter of India's crude imports.

The Delhi Declaration was signed during the 2006 visit of Saudi King Abdullah to New Delhi, and aimed to promote joint investments by private and state-run firms in energy projects in both countries.

Saudi Arabia is India's fourth largest trading partner with over $ 25 billion. The number of joint ventures in the Kingdom is over 500 with an estimated investment of over $ 2 billion.

Singh is India's second Prime Minister in 28 years after Indira Gandhi to visit the royal kingdom. Gandhi visited in 1982.