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Singapore Defence Minister meets President Murmu
Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, an official said, adding that the visiting dignitary also chaired the sixth India-Singapore Defence Ministerial Dialogue alongside his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh.
India and Singapore have a long-standing bilateral cooperation, which further gained impetus in the recent visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Singapore and the conclusion of the 2nd round of India-Singapore Ministerial Roundtable meeting, President Murmu said as he welched the visiting minister to Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The statement further said that President Murmu expressed satisfaction that the relationship has been elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
She also hailed Singapore for hosting the maiden ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise successfully and wished all the best to both sides of the armed forces in this series of joint exercises scheduled ahead, said an official statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Murmu pointed out that the current and past researchers and developers of both the nations, India and Singapore, must strengthen the collaboration between the research and development teams of the two countries as a step to obtain the advanced know-how and technological innovations of the current world relating in the defense area.
Earlier Defence Minister Rajnath Singh co-chairs the sixth India-Singapore Defence Ministerial Dialogue with his Singaporean counterpart Ng Eng Hen in the national capital.
A statement revealed that deep and long-lasting bilateral defence relations, on which the ministers agreed, were based on a convergent view toward regional peace, stability, and security.
"This meeting acquires importance in the context of India completing a decade of its Act East policy, wherein Singapore played a stellar role in boosting economic cooperation and cultural ties besides developing strategic connectivity with countries in the region," said the Ministry of Defence in a statement.
Both defence ministers promoted bilateral cooperation. Both defence ministers claimed that cooperation on defence is one of the most vital for the two nations. The cooperation between the two was increasing. There had been consistent engagements between the two armed forces for the past two years. The ministers, after two years had marked the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Singapore at 60, decided to step up defence cooperation and agreed on new feats. Both the ministers also agreed to extend bilateral agreement on Joint Military Training Army for the next five years, the statement said.
Defence Minister thanked Singaporean counterpart, Eng Hen, for his country taking up the coordinator for India in the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus for the period of 2021 to 2024.
He further added, "The Defence Minister of Singapore accepted that India is a strategic voice for Asia's peace and stability. In the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the bilateral relationship was elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. A ceremonial welcome has been given to the visitor dignitary which was also complemented by a Tri-Service Guard of Honour before entering the deliberations.".
The Defence Minister of Singapore visited India with his wife and laid a wreath and also made an obit at the National War Memorial in Delhi.Ng Eng Hen is on a visit to India from October 21-23.
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