The twelfth meeting of the India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation was held in New Delhi today. The Indian delegation was led by the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony and the Russian delegation was led by Shri AE Serdyukov, Defence Minister of the Russian Federation.
During the meeting of the Commission, which was conducted in a spirit of mutual cooperation and understanding, the two sides expressed readiness to take all necessary measures to further expand the cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis.
The Commission endorsed the Protocols of the meetings of the Working Group on Shipbuilding, Aviation and Land Systems, (WG SALS) and the Working Group on Military Technical Cooperation (WG-MTC) which were held in New Delhi on 27-28 August, 2012 and 30-31 August, 2012 respectively. The Commission appreciated the work done by the Co-Chairmen and Members of both the Working Groups and noted with approval the significant progress made in promoting bilateral military technical cooperation between the two countries.
The Commission noted that during the period under review, the two countries have taken various steps to deepen interaction in the development of defence technologies, modernization of military equipment and joint manufacture of military-purpose products. The two sides confirmed that such cooperation involves the strengthening of interactions between the Armed Forces, defense industry enterprises and research agencies of the two countries.
The Commission reviewed and discussed the status of some of the major issues in Military Technical Cooperation. Earlier, immediately after his arrival this morning, Mr. AE Serdyukov visited Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate and laid a wreath in the war memorial. Later he was accorded a tri-services Guard of Honour at the Lawns of South Block. Shri Antonyalso hosted a lunch in honour of the visiting Russian Defence Minister and his delegation.