New Delhi, Dec 12: India and Sudan today agreed to step up defence co-operation particularly in training of personnel and defence industry as the visiting Sudanese Defence Minister Major General Bakri Hasan Salih held talks with his Indian counterpart. Salih called on Defence Minister George Fernandes for a one to one meeting after which the two leaders led their respective high level teams to delegation level talks.

A defence ministry spokesman said the talks covered training of defence personnel and defence industry cooperation. He said the two sides constituted two sub-groups which would meet later to work out the details.

The Sudanese defence delegation is slated to visited the National Defence Academy in Pune also prime Indian defence industry establishments like Hindustan Aeronautics, Bharat Electronics and Bharat Earth Movers Limited at Bangalore after talks in the capital.

The Chief of Air Staff Ari Chief Marshal S Krishnaswamy and Vice Chief of the Army Staff Lt Gen Shantanu Choudhary called on the visiting defence minister.

Bureau Report