Lieutenant General Qi Jianguo, Deputy Chief of General Staff (Operations), PLA China was on a two-day visit on April 22 and 23 in India, along with an eight member delegation. The visit is in response to an invitation extended by the Government of India.

The two sides exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest such as maintenance of peace and tranquility along line of actual control and enhancing mutual cooperation and understanding between the armies of India and China. Measures for implementation of existing bilateral agreements were also discussed.

The meeting was held in a warm and cordial atmosphere. Both sides agreed on the need to enhance bilateral military engagements. The Chinese side has confirmed its participation in the Fourth India China Joint Training Exercise scheduled to be held in November 2014 in India. The PLA delegation also called on the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and the Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh and the Defence Secretary.

India and China attach great importance to high level military exchanges. 2014 has also been declared as “Year of Friendly Exchanges”. It may be recalled that in February this year, the PLA Delegation led by Lieutenant General Wang Guanzhong, Deputy Chief of General Staff had come to India for Annual Def Dialogue and the Indian Defence Minister had visited China in July 2013. The Chinese side has also confirmed the visit of its Defence Minister General Chang Wanquan to India later this year.