India, Lesotho discuss defence, security cooperation

    By IANS,

    New Delhi : Defence and security cooperation and the lines of credit offered by India topped the agenda during talks between India and Lesotho held Thursday-Friday in the landlocked southern African nation.


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    The two countries held the second meeting of their Joint Bilateral Commission of Cooperation in Maseru, Lesotho, to discuss the current state of bilateral relations and the follow up of decisions taken at the India Africa Forum Summit.

    This was the first meeting of the JBCC to be held in Lesotho. The Indian delegation was led by Ravi Bangar, Additional Secretary (East & Southern Africa), Ministry of External Affairs and the Lesotho delegation was led by J.T. Metsing, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations of Lesotho, said a statement.

    Both sides discussed at length cooperation under the India Africa Forum Summit, defence and security cooperation and Lines of Credit offered by India.

    India and Lesotho enjoy close and friendly bilateral relations which are multifaceted. There is a strong cooperation in bilateral matters and excellent coordination of views in regional and international fora. India-Lesotho cooperation has developed through capacity building programmes, training and sharing of experience in diverse fields including defence and security.

    The heads of the delegation commended the existing warm and cordial relations between the two countries. They emphasized the significance of the second meeting of the Joint Bilateral Commission on Cooperation as another milestone of meaningful and growing cooperation between the two countries.

    Both sides also reviewed implementation of decisions taken at the first meeting of the JBCC in March 2009 as well as those under the two India Africa Forum Summits.

    Both sides held extensive discussions on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of common interest, the statement said.

    It was agreed to hold the next meeting in New Delhi.

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