India, Oct. 28 -- Defence minister Rajnath Singh will seek to strengthen defence ties with Southeast Asian nations and identify new areas of cooperation during his two-day visit to the Philippines for the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus from October 28-29, officials said.

The visit comes days after Singh said India was ready to explore defence cooperation with the Southeast Asian bloc in areas ranging from patrol vessels, radars and air defence systems to helicopters, drones and other technologies.

The visit will also focus on advancing a free, open and inclusive order in the vast Indo-Pacific region, the officials said.

"India is firmly committed to ASEAN centrality and the peace, stability, and collective growth of the Ind...