Thaindian News

Beijing, April 27 (IANS) An Indian military delegation will soon visit China, an official said Wednesday.

The delegation will include officers from several branches of India’s military, said Geng Yansheng, spokesperson for the Chinese defence ministry at a press briefing.

No details of the visit were given.

Xinhua quoted Geng as saying that “new breakthroughs” have emerged in Sino-Indian military ties.

Only by observing the guidelines of mutual respect, understanding and accommodation and seeking common ground while “reserving some differences” can the two militaries enhance their strategic mutual trust, Geng said.

The Chinese side will promote exchanges and cooperation with India in various fields and at different levels, he said.

Earlier this month, India and China had agreed to resume high-level defence exchanges, stalled after Beijing denied a proper visa to a senior Indian army officer serving in Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision was taken at a meeting April 13 between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chinese President Hu Jintao in the Chinese coastal resort of Sanya on the sidelines of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) summit. The two leaders discussed a range of bilateral and global issues.

National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon told reporters after the 50-minute meeting that “following the discussions in the last few months about these exchanges, it has been agreed that a multi-command Indian army delegation will be visiting China later this year”.

“And we are also discussing further exchanges and visits in this sector during the year,’ Menon added.

India suspended defence exchanges last August, strongly objecting to China issuing a visa on a loose sheet to Lt. Gen. B.S. Jaswal, then the army’s Northern Command chief who was based in Jammu and Kashmir.