JAPAN SELF-DEFENSE FORCES CHIEF TO VISIT INDIA

NEW DELHI: 15 September 2005

General Hajime Massaki, Chairman, Joint Staff Council, Japan Self-Defense Forces, will make an official visit to India from 18th September to 22nd September 2005.

The purpose of his visit to India is to exchange views on the security environment and each other’s defence policy, strengthen mutual understanding, and to promote defence exchanges between Japan and India.

During his visit to India, General Massaki is scheduled to pay a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of Defence, and Mr. Shekhar Dutt, Defence Secretary, besides holding discussions with Admiral Arun Prakash, Chairman, Chief of Staff Committee, General J.J. Singh, Chief of Army Staff, and Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi, Chief of Air Staff. He will also visit the Northern Command in Udhampur, the 50th Para Brigade in Agra, and the Western Naval Command in Mumbai.

This is the first-ever visit to India by the Chairman, Joint Staff Council, Japan Self-Defense Forces.

(In case of any questions regarding the above visit, please contact Col. Masaaki Shintaku, Defense Attache, Embassy of Japan, New Delhi; Tel. No.26876564)