Article Posted on : - Sep 21, 2012

NEW DELHI (PTI): Looking to strengthen military ties with nations in country's immediate and extended neighbourhood, Indian Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh will visit Japan and Bangladesh next month.

The Army Chief is first scheduled to visit Japan from September 30 to October 2 where he will meet top Japanese military leadership to discuss ways of further strengthening defence ties between the two sides, Army officials said.

India and Japan have been strengthening their military ties in the recent past and several high level visits between the two sides have taken place in the last few years including the talks between their Defence Ministers.

India and Japan have also started coordinated patrols in the Gulf of Aden while carrying out anti-piracy operations in that region along with China.

They will also start having bilateral exercises between their navies in the near future.

A day after returning from Tokyo, Gen Singh will proceed towards Dhaka from October 3 to 6 for enhancing mutual trust and confidence with India’s eastern neighbour, they said.

Gen Singh's predecessor Gen V K Singh had also visited Bangladesh in 2011.

Bangladeshi Army Chief Gen Mohammed Abdul Mubeen had also visited India in November last year and was accorded the rare honour of reviewing the passing out parade of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla in Pune.