Malaysia-France Partnership To Increase Quality Of Nation's Defence Assets

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is confident that continued cooperation between the Malaysian and French Defence Ministries would lead to improved quality of national defence assets. He said the bilateral relations would present long-term benefits to Malaysia, especially in obtaining the latest defence assets such as the EC725 helicopter from French company, Eurocopter. "We need to enhance the transfer of knowledge and technology through this partnership and our country will greatly benefit from the wide defence technology from France," he told reporters during a courtesy call from French Defence Minister Gerard Longuet at Wisma Pertahanan (Defence building), here Monday. Ahmad Zahid (left) said besides asset procurement, the French Defence Ministry also provides Malaysia with submarine crew training to step up their skills in the field. He said the partnership would not only be limited to France, but would also allow cooperation in defence from other nations. "The collaboration is not only with France but other regions and will use Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) as a market place to widen defence technology," he added. Meanwhile, Longuet (right) said most French companies are multinational companies which have worldwide significance. "When we talk about Eurocopter France, that has worldwide significance. We are confident to deploy defence assets to Malaysia to strengthen and establish the relationship and to maintain it for the long term," he said. (photoBERNAMA) MALAYSIA