President Pratibha Patil returned home on Friday after her two-nation tour of Switzerland and Austria during which she held talks with the top leadership of the two countries and discussed ways to enhance bilateral cooperation, including on tax-related matters.

During President’s 30th September to 4th October visit to Switzerland, the two countries signed an MoU on Financial Dialogue that will pave the way for greater cooperation between their tax authorities, as the issue of black money has become a major political and public talking point back home.

The agreement, inked in the presence of Patil and her Swiss counterpart Micheline Calmi-Rey, came close on the heels of the signing of an amending protocol to the Double Taxation (Avoidance) Agreement (DTAA).

During the bilateral talks, the Swiss side said that they fully supported India’s associate membership of the European Organisation for Nuclear Research or CERN.

Patil also sought Swiss support to India’s candidature for permanent membership of the UN Security Council.

The Swiss side said that they supported UN reforms and considered India’s aspirations to permanent membership as legitimate.

In Austrian capital Vienna, Patil addressed the India-Austria Business Forum Meet, where she invited foreign companies to invest in India.

During her talks with Fischer, Patil conveyed to him that India was keen to normalise relations with Pakistan provided there are “conducive factors” and that it had also stepped up efforts to enhance ties with China.

Govt sincere in passing Lokpal bill: Patil

Backing Centre’s efforts to tackle corruption, President Pratibha Patil on Friday said the government was sincere in passing the Jan Lokpal Bill. “Definitely, that is the best way.

And it should happen that way. I feel so,” Patil said on board Air India One special aircraft, while returning from an eight-day State Visit to Switzerland and Austria.

President was responding to a question about whether the fight against corruption should be led by parliamentary democracy.

“Government of India is taking a lot of measures. The Bill is before the House and the government is very sincere in passing the Lokpal Bill and bringing it into force,” she said.

“There is no doubt about it,” the President added. A lot of other measures are being taken, she said, citing the the example of RTI.

President said that “despite such a big country, India is implementing RTI, which is very important thing.”

She also talked about the Amending Protocol to Double Taxation Treaty inked with Switzerland recently. “India is very keen on it… I took up the issue with Switzerland also.

So all measures which are necessary to curb corruption and combat corruption, the government of India taking and that is why India is actively considering becoming a member of International Anti-corruption Academy,” she said.