Article Posted on : - Feb 07, 2012

NEW DELHI (PTI): India and Brazil on Monday held discussions to enhance their bilateral cooperation in areas of defence and regional security.

"Defence Minister A K Antony held talks with his Brazilian counterpart Celso Amorim and had candid discussions on bilateral defence cooperation and regional security issues," the Ministry said in a release.

Amorim is on a five-day visit to India which started on February 4th. After taking over as Defence Minister in his country recently, this is Amorim's first foreign visit.

The visiting Minister emphasised that due to the high importance accorded to New Delhi by his country, he chose to visit India first, officials said.

In the 40-minute meeting between the two Ministers, senior Brazilian officials along with its Air Force chief and Indian officials also took part.

The Brazilian Defence Minister will visit HAL in Bangalore on Tuesday. India has bought six Embraer aircraft from Brazil to develop its indigenous Airborne Early Warning and Control System aircraft.

Top Ministers and bureaucrats also use the Brazilian-origin Embraer aircraft for visits within the country and the neighbouring nations.