Navy chiefs call on Ng Eng Hen

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen met several navy chiefs yesterday to reaffirm longstanding defence ties.

One of them was India's chiefs of staff committee chairman and chief of naval staff, Admiral Sunil Lanba, who is here on a five-day introductory trip. He called on Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Perry Lim, and Chief of Navy, Rear-Admiral Lai Chung Han, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) yesterday.

Adm Lanba, who is in Singapore until tomorrow, attended the International Maritime Review hosted by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) on Monday, which saw 28 warships from 20 countries gathering to celebrate the RSN's Golden Jubilee. Warships included two from India - INS Sahyadri and INS Kamorta.

The Indian navy chief also attended the opening ceremonies of the International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (Imdex) Asia at the Changi Exhibition Centre yesterday.

As part of his trip, he will visit the RSN's Changi Command and Control Centre at Changi Naval Base, the Multinational Operations and Exercise Centre, and the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Training School.

He will also address students from the Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College when he visits Safti Military Institute this afternoon.

Mindef said his visit underscores the warm and longstanding defence relations between Singapore and India, strengthened by the revised Defence Cooperation Agreement signed in 2015, as well as the Air Force and Army Bilateral Agreements concluded in 2007 and 2008 respectively.

Yesterday, the naval chiefs of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) member countries also called on Dr Ng, while reaffirming their commitment to the grouping.

Vice-Admiral Timothy Barrett from the Royal Australian Navy, Admiral Ahmad Kamarulzaman Badaruddin from the Royal Malaysian Navy, Rear-Admiral John Martin from the Royal New Zealand Navy, RADM Lai, and Admiral Philip Jones from the United Kingdom's Royal Navy met Dr Ng at the Changi Exhibition Centre.

The FPDA naval chiefs also met on the sidelines of Imdex Asia.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 17, 2017, with the headline Navy chiefs call on Ng Eng Hen. Subscribe