Official sources mentioned the 2 sides reviewed all the gamut of bilateral cooperation (File)
New Delhi:
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Florence Parly on Thursday held intensive talks throughout which they vowed to step up cooperation within the Indian Ocean, a area which is witnessing rising Chinese language navy posturing.
It’s learnt that Mr Singh additionally apprised Ms Parly on India’s four-month-long border row with China in jap Ladakh.
Official sources mentioned the 2 sides reviewed all the gamut of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on modern regional and international safety problems with mutual curiosity.
The 2 ministers emphasised the necessity to work carefully maintaining in view the joint strategic imaginative and prescient of India-France cooperation within the Indian Ocean area, the sources mentioned.
The talks happened at Ambala Air Power station after a ceremony marking induction of 5 Rafale jets into the Indian Air Power.
Mr Singh and Ms Parly held a quick dialog on the Air Power station in Palam in Delhi shortly after her arrival on Thursday morning.
The Indian Navy has considerably expanded its deployment within the Indian Ocean Area, stationing a plethora of warships and submarines following the border row in jap Ladakh to ship throughout a message to Beijing.
The maritime house across the Malacca Strait may be very important for China’s provide chain by way of sea routes.
After returning to Delhi within the afternoon, Ms Parly held talks with Nationwide Safety Advisor Ajit Doval specializing in methods to additional increase bilateral defence and safety cooperation, officers mentioned.
In her transient handle on the ceremony, Ms Parly mentioned France is totally dedicated to combine the Indian defence trade with France’s international navy provide chain, whereas calling the induction of the Rafale jets into the IAF a brand new chapter in bilateral defence ties.
“The strategic partnership between France and India relies on frequent values and friendship cast over a number of many years,” she mentioned.
“Since India’s independence, our two democracies have been cooperating very carefully. France has at all times stood beside India in good and dangerous instances,” she mentioned.
In Delhi, Ms Parly visited the nationwide warfare memorial and paid tributes to India’s fallen heroes.