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