Pallam Raju to Visit Korea, Mongolia Next Week

New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) Seeking to take India's defence relations with South Korea and Mongolia to higher levels, Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju heads next week to these countries, leading a high-level defence delegation.

During his visit to Korea from May One to Three, Minister Raju is scheduled to meet National Defence Minister Yoon Kwang-ung and Minister of Foreign Affairs&Trade Ban Ki Moon in Seoul and hold discussions on bilateral defence cooperation and other issues of mutual interest. He is also expected to visit some defence-related industries and meet industry leaders.

The Indian delegation will also visit the Korean Defence Acquisition Programme Administration and the Agency for Defence Development, an official spokesperson said here today.

South Korea is an emerging political and economic partner of India with defence relations and cooperation having recently been strengthened with the signing of an MoU on Defence Industry and Logistics Cooperation in September last year. Another MoU on cooperation between the Coast Guards of the two countries was concluded in March last.

South Korea, a major investor in India, has developed world-class expertise, particularly in fields related to Defence Production, including ship-building. India hopes to benefit from a collaborative effort which brings together Korean technology and Indian manufacturing advantage to mutual benefit.

Later, during his two-day visit to Mongolia beginning May Four, Minister Raju is expected to call on President Natsagiyn Bagabandi and Prime Minister Mieagombo Enkhbold. He will also hold meetings with the Mongolian Ministers of Defence and Foreign Affairs, respectively, to discuss bilateral defence cooperation and other issues of mutual interest.

India and Mongolia share many common values and traditions and the age-old friendship between the two countries has been reinforced in recent years with India's active participation in Mongolia's reconstruction effort. Bilateral defence relations were cemented with the visit of the former Mongolian Minister of Defence to India in December 2005 when he witnessed the second India - Mongolia joint military exercises.

India has responded positively to the invitation by Mongolia to participate in the multi-lateral military exercise 'Khanquest-06' to be held in Mongolia this year in autumn.

UNI DG PR ND2102