The Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid met the visiting President of Mauritius Rajkeswur Kailash Purryag here on Friday and flagged India's keen interest in enhancing bonds with the Indian Ocean littoral nations through the interface of the Indian Ocean Rim for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC). Mauritius welcomed this proposal.

He also exchanged views on Indian proposal at IOR-ARC for setting up of an Indian Ocean University.

New areas of cooperation were also discussed including anti-piracy measures in Indian Ocean.

Mauritius has established a court to try pirates and India has stepped up patrolling in the area and is committed to freeing from captivity more than 30 Indian citizens who are in custody of pirates.

Mauritius reiterated its unwavering support for India for a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

On DTAC - Mauritus is keen on predictability in financial sector. Understanding of India's concerns it wants a win-win situation for both.

Both Khurshid and Purryag discussed the progress in sharing tax related information. India-Mauritius Joint Committee on this matter have met two times in 2012 and there has been some progress. India hopes to continue these discussions following the decisions on the Shome Committee recommendations on General Anti-Avoidance Rules (GAAR).

President Purryag is on a State Visit to India from January 3-10. He is accompanied by his wife Aneetah Purryag and the Ministers of Arts & Culture and of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment, and senior officials.

President Purryag, a person of Indian origin, will be the Chief Guest at the gala conclave of Overseas Indians - Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2013 - on January 8-9 and is slated to be honoured with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award.

He arrived in India in New Delhi on Thursday. He was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential Palace) on Friday and he meet the President of India Pranab Mukherjee and held talks with the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh.

Vice President of India Hamid Ansari, Speaker of Lok Sabha (Lower House of Indian Parliament) Meira Kumar called on him.

On Saturday he is slated to visit the historic Humayun tomb in Delhi.

On Sunday President Purryag will depart for Patna in Bihar and pay tribute at the Statue of Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam at Mahatma Gandhi Park. He will then go to his ancestral village Bajeetpur and proceed to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh to pray to Lord Balaji.

He will arrive in Kochi on Monday and will be the Chief Guest at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas-2013 on Tuesday.