A delegation of five cadets and two senior officers from Myanmar Navy visited Indian Naval Academy (INA) to acquaint itself with infrastructure, academic facilities and training processes in India. The delegation led by Major Thike Zaw Hein and Captain Ko Ko Min of the Myanmar Defense Services Academy was at INA for a week from October 1.
"Naval cooperation between India and Myanmar has been traditionally strong, encompassing a wide span which includes operational interactions through coordinated patrols, training, port calls, passage exercises along with capacity building and capability augmentation initiatives. The aim of the visit was to build bridges of friendship between the two navies, exchange best practices and to consolidate and enhance bilateral defence relations between India and Myanmar," said RG Ajith, lieutenant Commander, spokesperson of the INA.
The visit also gave INA staff an opportunity to learn and understand the training processes and philosophy followed at Myanmar Defense Services Academy. Ajith added that the visiting Myanmar officer delegation and cadetas were given opportunities to not only understand the functionality of INA, but also to form bonds of friendship with INA cadets. later, they were accommodated in the cadet's squadron, dined and played with the INA cadets and also attended classes in the company of their INA counterparts. They were also exposed to 'God's Own Country' — Kerala — through visits to places of historical and cultural interest in and around Payyanur.
The visit of Myanmar Naval delegation to INA closely follows the recent visit of Admiral Tin Aung San, Commander in Chief, Myanmar Navy to India from September 18-21, and is reflective of the growing level of cooperation between both Navies.