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China, India to boost military ties
Monday, 29 March 2004, 20:30 IST
NEW DELHI: Four decades after they fought a bitter border war, India and China Monday agreed to increase contacts and interaction between their militaries to build "familiarity, trust and confidence".
This was decided at delegation-level talks here between Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes and his Chinese counterpart, Gen. Cao Gangchuan, a defence ministry spokesman said.
As part of efforts to boost contacts between the two militaries, India and China will host each other's armed forces personnel to observe future military exercises.
A statement issued by the defence ministry after the talks said increased contacts between the defence establishments and armed forces of both countries would be "in the interest of building familiarity, trust and confidence so as to develop bilateral relations as a whole".
Military exchanges were reviewed and assessed positively by the two sides, the statement said.
"It was felt that an early resolution of the boundary question would give a boost to bilateral relations. Both sides presented new proposals to strengthen and develop defence exchanges and confidence building," it said.
"It was agreed that training, including Chinese language training in defence institutions in India, sports and cultural exchanges and friendly interaction between border personnel at the Line of Actual Control would be increased.
"The Chinese side made an offer to host Indian armed forces officers to observe future Chinese military exercises. (Fernandes) reciprocated the offer from the Indian side."
Cao's five-day visit, only the second by a Chinese defence minister to India since 1994, is seen as a reflection of the growing ties between the two countries despite their unresolved boundary dispute that led to the war between the world's two most populous nations in 1962.
The spokesman described the talks between Fernandes and Cao, who is also the vice chairman of China's powerful Central Military Commission, as "open and constructive".
"Fernandes expressed hope the momentum of high-level visits would be sustained," the spokesman said.
"While Fernandes expressed his gladness over the visit of the Chinese defence minister within a year of his own visit to China, Gen. Cao recalled Fernandes' visit to China at the height of the SARS epidemic and thanked him for the medicines sent by India."
Cao also presented a brief overview of the international situation and recent major domestic developments, notably the just concluded National People's Congress.
Cao is leading a 17-member delegation from the Chinese defence ministry that includes Gen. Zhang Shutian, deputy director of the General Political Department, People's Liberation Army (PLA), Vice Admiral Wang Shouye, deputy commander of the PLA Navy, Lt. Gen. Zheng Shouzeng, deputy commander of Lanzhou Military Command, and Lt. Gen. Meng Jinxi, deputy commander of Chengdu Military Command and Commander of the Tibet Military Command.
The last exchange of visits at the level of defence ministers took place in 1992 when then defence minister Sharad Pawar visited China and in 1994, when then Chinese defence minister Gen. Chi Haotian visited India.
Cao's delegation visited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bangalore and the Western Naval Command in Mumbai Saturday and Sunday.
In Mumbai, the delegation visited several Indian Navy ships including INS Vikrant.
Soon after the conclusion of his talks with Fernandes, Cao delivered a lecture at the National Defence College in New Delhi.
India's three service chiefs also called on Cao Monday. Cao was to call on Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Monday.
The Chinese delegation will travel to Agra Tuesday, where it will visit the 50 Para Brigade, an air force station and the Taj Mahal before leaving for Bangkok.
Source: IANS
Source: IANS
