Navy chief :Begins visit to Mozambique, Tanzania

New Delhi, July 23 (SURYAA): Indian Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba on Sunday embarked on an eight-day visit of Mozambique and Tanzania that is aimed at consolidating bilateral relations and exploring new avenues for defence cooperation.

Admiral Lanba, who heads the powerful Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC), will be visiting the two African nations till July 30. 

Commencing his bilateral visit from Mozambique, Lanba is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with National Defence Minister Atanásio Salvador M'tumuke, Chief of General Staff General Graça Tomás Chongo, besides chiefs of the army, navy and air force of the African nation.

"The visit aims to consolidate bilateral defence relations with Mozambique as well as with Tanzania, as also to explore new avenues for defence cooperation," the Defence Ministry said in a statement here.

During his stay in Mozambique till July 25, Admiral Lanba is scheduled to visit the Instituto Superior De Estudos De Defesa (ISEDEF), where he will interact with its commandant and faculty. He will also lay a wreath at the Hero's Square.

Admiral Lanba will begin his five-day visit to Tanzania on July 26, wherein he is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with Tanzania President John Magafuli, Minister of Defence and National Service Dr Hussei Mwinyi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Augustine Mahiga, chief of defence forces General Venance S Mabeyo as also the three Tanzanian People's Defence Forces (TPDF) Service Chiefs. 

The Admiral will visit the Command and Staff College, Arusha, where he will interact with its commandant and faculty.

Indian armed forces cooperate with the armed forces of Mozambique and Tanzanian on many fronts, including training and hydrography, besides participating in each other's defence events.