SEOUL, March 20 (Xinhua) -- South Korea and India on Tuesday launched their first defense committee meeting in Seoul to discuss issues including joint production of military equipment in India.

    According to the Korea Herald, South Korea will propose joint projects with India to build a range of arms and equipment, including 5,000-ton class convoy escort vessels, armored vehicles and K-9 self-propelled guns, during the five-day meeting.

    In a statement by South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) on Tuesday, the South Korean Defense Ministry said the two sides will sign a memorandum of understanding for guaranteeing the quality of their defense products and will discuss establishing a system to promote cooperation in defense technology.

    Officials of the DAPA told local media that South Korea needs active and multifaceted export strategies to attract India because the country is a rising military power that has great potential to influence the global defense market, adding that India has showed a keen interest in Korea's ship-building technology.

    Lee Sun-hee, commissioner of the DAPA, will head the South Korean delegation in the meeting, while the Indian delegation will be led by K.P. Singh, secretary for defense production at the Indian Defense Ministry.