New Delhi, Dec 16 - Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony arrived in Hanoi Sunday evening on a three-day official visit to Vietnam that he said would 'lead to greater mutually beneficial relationship' between the armed forces of the two countries.He was accorded a warm welcome by the Indian ambassador to Vietnam, Lal T. Muana, the director general of external relations of the Vietnamese defence ministry, Maj. Gen. Pham Thanh Lan, and other senior Vietnamese officials at the Noi Bai Airport.Antony's visit to Vietnam is part of India's Look East Policy and the two sides 'are expected to take up a number of issues to deepen their defence cooperation which has been gathering momentum after the signing of the strategic partnership agreement in July', a defence ministry release here said.Accompanied by a high-level delegation consisting of senior officials of the defence ministry and the three services, Antony will hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, Gen. Phung Quang Thanh, Monday.He will also pay courtesy calls on Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and legendary leader Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap who was responsible for planning the operations in the 1950s that saw the withdrawal of the French colonial occupiers.Antony will also visit various defence installations in Ho Chi Minh city, besides holding discussions with the Indian Chamber of Business.This is the minister's third visit abroad after assuming office 14 months ago.Over the years, India-Vietnamese defence cooperation has grown steadily through visits by military delegations, ship visits from India and training of Vietnamese defence personnel in India.Last month, the 3rd India Vietnam Security Dialogue was held in New Delhi and a number of decisions were taken by both sides to give further impetus to their relationship.The decisions included exchange of visits for better appreciation of requirements and problems, and greater cooperation in the field of training of service personnel - particularly involving junior level officers.
(c) Indo-Asian News Service
