German Defence Minister on two-day visit to India

New Delhi, Feb 8 (PTI) India and Germany will discussregional and international security and defence issues duringthe two-day visit of German Defence Minister Karl-Theodor zuGuttenberg to the country beginning tomorrow.

Guttenberg is reaching Bangalore tomorrow where he isscheduled to visit the Aero India airshow and hold talks withDefence Minister A K Antony on a range of issues.

"The talks between the two ministers on the sidelines ofthe show will focus on regional and international security anddefence issues," a German embassy statement said.

The visiting minister is leading a high-profile 40-memberdelegation which is expected to explore ways to enhancebilateral relations.

A total of 17 German Aerospace Industries Association(BDLI) member companies will be present at the German pavilionat Aero India, which is dubbed as Asia''s premier air show.

Guttenberg is also scheduled to meet Chief of Air Staff PV Naik and Director General of Defence Research andDevelopment Organisation (DRDO) V K Saraswat.

India and Germany share a strategic partnership in thefield of defence.

In 2006, the two sides signed a Memorandum ofUnderstanding that provides for the establishment of threebilateral working groups focussing on strategic and policymatters on military issues, military cooperation between thearmed forces and defence technology and defence businesscooperation.