India, China Defence Ministers to hold talks tomorrow

During his talks with A K Antony, Gen Liang Guanglie, who has become the first Chinese Defence Minister to visit India in eight years, is expected to address New Delhi's concerns over Chinese military infrastructure build-up along the border and discuss more Confidence Building Measures (CBMs).

Gen Liang's visit takes place at a time when the two Asian giants are competing vigourously to gain a foothold across the continent for resources. He arrived in Mumbai yesterday on a five-day visit to the country.

He is scheduled to hold wide-ranging discussions with Antony on issues relating to border and bolstering military-to-miltary cooperation.

"We are planning to resume the army-to-army exercise 'Hand-in-Hand' from next year and a final decision in this regard is expected to be taken at the meeting between Gen Liang and his Indian counterpart," a senior Indian Defence Ministry official said.

After his meeting with Antony, the Chinese Defence Minister will hold a meeting with the Chairman, Chiefs of Staffs Committee Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne at the South Block before calling on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Military exercises between the two countries had started in 2007 but were put on hold in 2010 after a series of hiccups in the defence ties between the two sides.

The first exercise was held in Kunming, China in 2007 and the second in Belgaum in India in 2008. The third edition was to have been held in China in 2010 but has since remained stalled. (MORE)