NEW DELHI -- Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee on Saturday put forth the vision of strategic partnership between India and Iran for a more stable, secure and prosperous region and for enhanced regional and global cooperation.

The Delhi Declaration touches all aspects of bilateral and economic cooperation -- cooperation in the field of hydrocarbons, science and technology, information technology, education and training, cooperation in reconstruction of Afghanistan, international terrorism and other global issues.

India and Iran agreed that combat against international terrorism should not be based upon double standards. States that aid, abet and directly support international terrorism should be condemned. They reiterated their resolve to work for an early finalization of a comprehensive convention against international terrorism.

Meanwhile, President Khatami, as a special guest of the Indian government, took part in a ceremony on Sunday marking India's 54th Republic Day, IRNA reported.

Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, was also present at the ceremony.

Khatami's convoy reached the place at around 9:55 (local time) and was welcomed by Indian Premier Vajpayee.

With the arrival of President Khatami at the Dais, the official ceremony marking Republic Day started with a 21-gun salute in New Delhi. In a news conference in New Delhi on Saturday Vajpayee remarked: "We attach great value to the presence of the Iranian president in this year's Republic Day ceremony." Khatami called India's National Day and the establishment of democracy in that country as "the beginning of a new era in the region which is a manifestation of the spirit of the Indian nation and great Mahatma Gandhi."

He said: "Gandhi was a messenger of peace and kindness at a time when violence, war, terror and colonialism dominates the world. "Gandhi was a person who spoke of peace, kindness, non-violence even against the enemy who expelled him from his own land."

More than 300 foreign and Indian dignitaries were participating in this year's ceremony.

India gained independence on August 15, 1947. Two years later on January 26, 1950, India was declared a republic with a parliamentarian form of government.

It held its first nationwide election in 1951 with the participation of 150 million people.

The presidents of Iran and India on Saturday night invited the humanity to resort to wisdom and avoid war and violence.

In their meeting in Rashtrapati Bhawan (president house) in New Delhi they emphasized on the efforts of India and Iran as two civilized countries for preventing the violence. Khatami said, "We should rely on the rich culture and history of the two countries and invite the humanity to resort to wisdom and condemn violence in all forms."

Abdul Kalam said that the world is now tired of war and violence and India and Iran as two countries with bright civilizations should prevent the expansion of violence in the region and the world.

India and Iran supported a united and sovereign Afghanistan and call on the international community to remain committed towards reconstruction and development of Afghanistan.

India and Iran also agreed that situation relating to Iraq should be resolved peacefully under the auspices of the UN.

The two sides reiterated their commitment to commence multilateral negotiations for nuclear disarmament under effective international control.

The two sides recognized that their growing strategic convergence needs to be underpinned with a strong economic relationship. The sides call upon the business communities of the two countries to harness each other's strength for mutual benefit and promote bilateral trade and investment.

Energy sector has been identified as a strategic area of their future relationship in which the interests of India and Iran complement each other.

India and Iran also agreed to explore opportunities for cooperation in defense in agreed areas, including training and exchange of visits.

Both countries would also issue a joint commemorative stamp dedicated to their common cultural heritage.

The emphasis of the declaration is on building up a contemporary relationship between India and Iran in the context of challenges of the modern world and drawing upon their historical relationship and interactions.