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Army chief to visit China with military delegation

by IBNS 01 Jul 2014, 12:18 pm

New Delhi, July 1 (IBNS) The Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Army Staff, General Bikram Singh, will proceed on a high level military delegation visit to China from Jul 2 to 5.

The visit assumes special significance in the light of increasing defence cooperation and an invitation for the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Army Staff to visit China.

To mark the 60th Anniversary of Panchsheel, both nations have designated 2014 as the “Year of Friendly Exchanges”.

There have been a series of high level visits between the two countries to build up trust and mutual confidence.  Recently the Chinese Foreign Minister Mr Wang Yi travelled to New Delhi from 08-09 Jun 2014 as the Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping and held extensive talks with India leaders.  The Vice President of India is also visiting China from 26-30 Jun 14.

Military to military cooperation between the PLA and India Armed Forces encompasses exchange of high and medium level visits, availing of training courses in each other’s training institutions, conduct of Joint Training Exercise, mutual attendance in Seminars/Conferences, CBMs on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) including sports activities between border troops and basic Naval exercises.

During the visit, the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of Army Staff shall be meeting senior political and military leaders of China including Mr Li Yuanchao, the Vice President, Gen Fan Changlong, Vice Chairman CMC, Gen Fang Fenghui, CGS & Mr Zhangye Sui the Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs.