Kuala Lumpur: India has agreed to boost defence cooperation with Malaysia, including holding of joint military exercises and training of the Southeast Asian country's Air Force pilots and submarine personnel, further cementing New Delhi's 'Look East' policy.

The two sides also agreed to strengthen efforts to combat terrorism, a joint statement issued after indepth talks between visiting Defence Minister A K Antony and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak said here.

Antony said India and Malaysia emphasised the need to further continue cooperation in defence supplies and defence industry, including technology assistance, co-production, joint ventures and industry collaborations.

The two sides would hold service specific military to military talks, alternately in India and Malaysia.

As part of the joint efforts to intensify bilateral defence cooperation, the Indian Air Force will undertake the training of Royal Malaysian air force pilots to fly Russian Su-30 MKM fighters, Antony, here on a two-day visit, said.

"The first phase of training by the Indian Air Force has commenced in India last month," Antony said. In the second phase of the training, 31 IAF personnel will arrive here next month to train pilots and technicians and are expected to be in Malaysia for two years, he told reporters.

He said India's "Look East policy is proceeding well and New Delhi has cordial ties with all ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) countries." Later, at a meeting Antony had with Malaysia's Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar, the two sides talked about defence cooperation and submarine training.

Source : PTI