Myanmar is seeking naval arms assistance from New Delhi, Indian media has reported.

The request came from Myanmar Navy’s Commander-in-Chief Vice Admiral Thura Thet Swe, who began a four-day visit to New Delhi by meeting with India’s Navy Chief Admiral D K Joshi and Defence Secretary Radha Krishna Mathur, the New Indian Express reported on Tuesday.

“Myanmar sought help in building offshore patrol vessels and supply of naval sensors and other military equipment to build a formidable navy,” it said.

The report said that Vice Admiral Thet Swe discussed with Admiral Joshi various proposals for strengthening navy-to-navy cooperation in operations, training and material support.

An official Indian Navy statement added that he also proposed “to take the existing relationship to another plane and promote capacity building and capability enhancement.”

According to the Press Trust of India, Admiral Joshi said that Myanmar is one of India’s closest allies, and noted that the two nations share both land and maritime borders.

“On the Navy-to-Navy front, we have had extremely cordial relations," he was quoted as saying.