NEW DELHI: Stronger ties between India and France will be forged this week with the visit of French Defence Minister Florence Parly to Delhi on Friday.Parly is likely to hold discussions on enhancing the “strategic cooperation in defence” with India, primarily on maritime security issues in the Indian Ocean . This is important in view of the growing Chinese naval presence in the region, including submarine forays and establishing military bases to strengthen their overseas operations.Besides holding talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the matter, Parly will visit Mihan, Nagpur to attend the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the Dassault-Reliance Aerospace manufacturing facility that has been established under a joint venture between the two companies to implement the offset obligation-related to the sale of 36 Rafale fighter jets to India. It is here that some critical parts of the 36 Rafales will be made for assembly in France.The facility can also be developed to completely manufacture the Rafale jet in India in case of a future order for additional jets under ‘Make in India’ and could lead to global outsourcing of Rafale components. After her arrival on Friday, Parly will meet Sitharaman to discuss strategic cooperation in defence between the two countries.“The cooperation primarily includes the Indian Ocean maritime security in view of the growing strength of the Chinese navy in the Indian Ocean Region,” said a government official. China has the largest navy in Asia with more than 300 surface ships, submarines, amphibious ships and patrol craft. It is giving high priority to submarines and already has a huge number of nuclear-powered attack submarines and diesel attack submarines. With its good naval strength, China is looking at its military having a wider operational reach.