Senior Lt Gen Do Ba Ty, Vice Minister of National Defence and Chief of the General Staff, Vietnam met Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne, Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) and Chief of the Air Staff at Air HQ, at Vayu Bhawan on 24 September 2013. The meeting saw issues such as – enhanced defence cooperation,capacity building, joint projects, training being discussed, besides a review of growing Vietnam-India Defence relationship. The Vietnamese General also had discussions with the Indian Army Chief, Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, Vice Chief of Naval Staff and Defence Secretary. Scheduled meetings with the Indian Defence Minister and National Security Adviser were not held as the former was hospitalised and the latter was leaving for Washington with the Prime Minister. The Sr Lt Gen visited the Indian Air Force Base at Hindon, where the newly acquired strategic transport aircraft like the US C-130Js and the US C-17 giant Globemaster are located. He also visited Headquarters Eastern Naval Command at Vishakhapatnam. Sr Lt Gen Do Ba Ty’s five day visit to India with a 14 member delegation underscores the importance and significance in view of China’s growing aggressiveness against India on its land borders and the maritime region.
VIETNAM’S VICE DEFENCE MINISTER’S SIGNIFICANT VISIT TO INDIA
