Thaindian News

New Delhi, June 24 (IANS) To explore opportunities to expand military relations, Mozambican Defence Minister Filipe Jacinto Nyussi will be in India on a five-day visit beginning Monday, when the two sides will discuss cooperation in capacity building and joint maritime patrolling against piracy along the African coast.

“Filipe Jacinto Nyussi, the minister of national defence of the Republic of Mozambique, arrives in New Delhi Monday on a five-day visit to India. He will be accompanied by a five-member high-level delegation,” an Indian defence ministry release said here Friday.

During his stay, Nyussi will hold talks with his Indian counterpart A.K. Antony and the chiefs of Indian army, navy and air force.

He will visit key defence installations, including the Western Naval Command in Mumbai, National Defence Academy and Armed Forces Medical College, both in Pune, besides the prestigious Army Hospital Research and Referral in the capital.

“Cooperation in training and maritime patrolling are expected to dominate the talks between the two sides. The issue of piracy off the east coast of Africa will figure prominently during the talks between the two ministers,” the release said.

India and Mozambique have enjoyed traditionally close and friendly relations. In March 2006, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation. Subsequently, two meetings of the joint defence working group were held in 2008 and 2010.

The scope of the MoU covers all the three armed forces, envisaging cooperation in the fields of military technical cooperation, logistics support and training.

It also deals with joint activities include maritime patrolling off the Mozambican coast, mutual training in military institutes, supply of defence equipment and services, and establishment of partnership and transfer of technical know-how and technology for assembling and repair of vehicles, aircraft and ships, as well as maintenance of military infrastructure.