India to help Vietnam enhance, upgrade its armed forces

Hanoi, Oct 13 (ANI): To further boost India's Look East Policy, Defence Minister AK Antony said that New Delhi will provide support to Vietnam to enhance and upgrade the capabilities of its three services in general and its Navy in particular.

Antony announced India's help at the bilateral meetings with the top Vietnamese leadership including President Nguyen Minh Triet, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh.

"India will help Vietnam in its capacity building for repair and maintenance of its platforms. The Armies of the two countries will also cooperate in areas like IT and English Training of Vietnamese Army personnel," Antony said on Tuesday.

He further said that both the armies will also have a joint training in mountain and jungle warfare in India next year, and offered assistance to Vietnamese Forces in UN Peacekeeping operations, in which India has vast experience.

Antony announced these measures to expand defence cooperation with Vietnam after successful conclusion of the first ASEAN Plus Eight Defence Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi.

The Vietnamese Defence Minister thanked India for its valuable contribution to make the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting a great success. (ANI)