New Delhi, 20 May (H.S.): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on an official visit to South Korea, said in Seoul that the changes witnessed over the past 12 years have given the people of India strong confidence that no power in the world can stop the country from becoming a developed nation. He also paid tribute to the brave Korean soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in the service of their country.
During his visit, Singh held discussions with the South Korean Defence Minister on ways to strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries, reiterating commitment to regional peace, stability, and technological collaboration. He also met South Korea’s Defence Acquisition Programme Administration Minister Lee Yong-chul in Seoul. Both sides agreed to explore pathways for joint development, joint production, and joint export, and discussed a roadmap to integrate the ecosystems of both countries.
In another meeting in Seoul, Rajnath Singh held talks with his South Korean counterpart Ahn Gyu-back on strengthening bilateral defence ties, defence industry cooperation, and strategic collaboration, with a shared commitment to regional peace, stability, and technological cooperation.
During the meeting, the two Defence Ministers exchanged agreements aimed at enhancing cyber defence cooperation between India’s National Defence College and Korea’s National Defence University, as well as cooperation on UN peacekeeping operations. These developments, Singh said, will further strengthen the India–South Korea partnership in a multidimensional manner.
Addressing the Indian community event in Seoul, Rajnath Singh said that earlier India depended heavily on imports for its requirements, but the situation has now changed. He noted that India, which once imported defence equipment, is now exporting defence systems and other related technologies, with exports exceeding ₹40,000 crore.
He said that countries are expected to further strengthen their special strategic partnership and added that today’s India is fundamentally different from the past. He highlighted that India is making rapid progress in the semiconductor sector.
The Defence Minister further said that economists are describing India’s development model as a new model of welfare politics, which is improving people’s lives. He remarked that 12 years ago, few could have imagined that the coming decade would be transformative for India, but the changes over the past 12 years have given people strong confidence that India will become a developed nation and that no force in the world can stop it.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
