Crucial Meeting of Indo-Russian Defence Cooperation Body Tomorrow

The Eighth Meeting of the India-Russia Inter-Governmental Commission on Military- Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC) to be held here tomorrow will cover a broad spectrum of issues including supply of defence systems, equipment upgrade, product and life cycle support for defence equipment of Russian origin.>> The Meeting will also discuss licensed and joint production, joint development and production of systems and platforms, interaction between the two armed forces and military technical cooperation.>> The Russian Defence Minister Mr Anatoly Serdyukov is arriving here this evening, leading a high-powered military delegation, to take part in the Meeting. Mr Serdyukov will co-chair the Commission meeting with the Defence Minister Mr AK Antony.>> Mr Serdyukov is visiting India for the first time as the Russian Defence Minister. During his three-day stay in India, he would be visiting the Brah-Mos Aerospace Complex in the capital besides the Para Brigade of the Army in Agra.>> IRIGC-MTC was established in 2000 with a view to strengthen our bilateral defence cooperation. India and Russia share long standing friendly relations. Since the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries in 2000, the two governments have steadily developed and strengthened bilateral cooperation covering a range of areas of which defence forms a significant component.>> -ends->>