New Delhi (ANTARA News/IRNA-OANA) - India`s Naval Chief Admiral Nirmal Verma left New Delhi on a four day official visit to Indonesia from 10th of January.

Admiral Verma will call on the Indonesian Minister of Defence Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Navy Admiral Soeparno, Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs Air Chief Marshal Djoko Suyanto and the Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian National Forces Admiral Agus Suhartono.

During his four day visit the Admiral will visit various facilities of the Indonesian Army, Navy and Air Force and the Admiral will be visiting Bandung and Bali in addition to Jakarta, said an official statement issued here.

The Indian Navy and the Indonesian Navy have a longstanding working relationship with high levels of mutual co-operation and understanding fostered through regular co-ordinated patrols and exercises such as MILAN.

Consistent information sharing on matters pertaining to maritime security also contributes significantly towards the healthy relationship. The two navies also co-operate in intelligence sharing particularly with regard to anti-piracy operations.

India, Indonesia Co-ordinated Patrols (CORPAT) are conducted twice a year wherein ships from the two Navies undertake co-ordinated patrol of the International Maritime Boundary Line between India and Indonesia for two to three weeks. Indonesian Navy ships have consistently participated in the MILAN series of exercise conducted in the Andaman and Nicobar islands by the Indian Navy.

The Indonesian Navy's motto Jalesveva Jayamahe meaning `Victorious on the Sea` in Sanskrit bears testimony to a 2000 year old historic and cultural link between India and Indonesia. It is interesting to note that the first Indian Traders, arrived in Indonesia in the 1st Century AD. Even today, symbolically, a ship starts from the port of Paradeep in Orissa to Bali on a voyage known as Bali Yatra.
(U.KR-AES/M016/P003)

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