RI and India to enhance defense ties

JAKARTA: In a clear sign of enhancing their defense ties, India and Indonesia are set to hold their first Joint Defense Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting this week in Jakarta, the Indian Embassy announced recently.

The four-day meeting is to start Monday and would be co-chaired by India's defense secretary Shekhar Dutt and his Indonesian counter part Lt. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

""The convening of the Joint Committee reflects the keenness of both countries to enhance their strategic partnership, boost military ties and pave the way for broader defense cooperation covering a range of areas, including education, military training, capacity building and information sharing,"" an embassy press release said.

Both countries, the release said, signed the bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement in 2001.

The present JDCC meeting is part of the ""New Strategic Partnership"" forged by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in November 2005. - JP