India, China to strengthen border communication, coordination

Defence Minister A.K. Antony Friday held talks with his Chinese counterpart Gen. Chang Wanquan and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing, and both sides agreed to maintain peace and tranquility on the Line of Actual Control and strengthen communication and coordination at various levels between their forces there.

Antony, who is on a four-day official visit to China, held delegation level talks with Gen. Chang, an official release said here.

He later called on Li, who conveyed to him that the new leadership in China attaches great importance to developing friendly and cooperative relations with India, it said.

Antony conveyed that India reciprocates the sentiment and looks forward to further building the relationship on foundation of mutual trust and confidence and based on mutual respect for each other's concerns.

During the meeting with Gen. Chang, the two sides discussed measures to promote mutual trust and confidence building between their armed forces.

"It was agreed that 'strategic communication' is required for building trust and understanding," the release said.

During the meetings, both sides discussed issues relating to bilateral defence relations, exchanges and interactions between the ministries of defence and armed forces of the two countries and regional and international security situation.

"Both sides agreed on the need to maintain peace, tranquility and stability on the LAC (Line of Actual Control). It was acknowledged that the border issue is a remnant of history which both sides are making efforts to resolve and it was agreed that the Special Representatives mechanism should continue to work towards a solution," the release said.

The two sides discussed the third joint army exercise in China in October this year.

Both sides have also agreed that there will be enhanced professional exchanges between navy and air force of the two countries.

Antony was assisted by Indian Ambassador to China S. Jaishankar, Defence Secretary R.K.Mathur, the army's Eastern Command chief Lt. General Dalbir Singh, Southern Naval Command chief Vice Admiral Satish Soni and other officers of the defence ministry and armed forces.

Earlier on his arrival at the Bayi People's Liberation Army headquarters, Antony was given a tri-services guard of honour.

He is expected to have further meetings in Beijing Saturday and will also visit National Defence University and an air force unit in Tianjin.

Antony's visit to China has come within days of border talks between the special representatives of the two countries.

The talks, held in Beijing June 28-29, concluded in productive atmosphere and laid emphasis on maintaining peace on the nearly 4,000 km boundary that had seen a three-week standoff earlier this year.

Li visited India in May and incursion by Chinese troops that began April 15 figured prominently in his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Chinese troops intruded 19 km inside India and pitched tents, raising tension between the two countries. The row ended May 5 after many rounds of negotiations.

Officials said that a border defence cooperation agreement first proposed by China is likely to figure in talks during Antony's visit.