Teo of Singapore visits India

Teo of Singapore visits India

SINGAPORE: Singapore's defense minister is expected to sign a wide-ranging defense cooperation agreement during a trip to India this week, the government said on Sunday.

Rear Adm. Teo Chee Hean's visit reflects a trend toward closer ties between India and its Southeast Asian neighbors.

Teo and his Indian counterpart, George Fernandes, will sign a pact promising more defense personnel exchanges, bilateral visits, courses and intelligence exchanges, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

During his four-day trip, Teo is also scheduled to meet with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and Cabinet officials, and will deliver a lecture on emerging security trends in the Southeast Asian region, the statement said.

Teo was due to depart for India late on Sunday. It will be the first official trip to India by a Singapore defense minister. -- AP