TILE HERE

India and China have agreed to increase contacts and interactions between the defence establishments and armed forces of both the countries. This would be in the interest of building familiarity, trust and confidence so as to develop bilateral relations as a whole. This was decided at the delegation level talks held here today. The Chinese delegation was led by the Chinese Minister of Defence and Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the People's Republic of China Gen Cao Gangchuan and the Indian delegation by the Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes. The tone and tenor of the talks were open and constructive.

At the outset of the talks Shri Fernandes expressed hope that the momentum of high-level visits would be sustained. While Shri Fernandes expressed his gladness over the visit of the Chinese Defence Minister within a year of his own visit to China, Gen Cao recalled Fernandes?visit to China at the height of the SARS epidemic and thanked him for the medicines sent by India.

During the talks, defence exchanges were reviewed and assessed positively. It was felt that an early resolution of the boundary question would give a boost to bilateral relations. Both sides presented new proposals to strengthen and develop defence exchanges and confidence building. It was agreed that training, including Chinese language training in defence institutions in India, sports and cultural exchanges and friendly interaction between border personnel at the Line of Actual Control would be increased. The Chinese side made an offer to invite host Indian Armed Forces officers to observe future Chinese military exercises. The Defence Minister reciprocated the offer from the Indian side.

The Chinese Defence Minister also presented a brief overview of the international situation and recent major domestic developments, notably the recently concluded National People's Congress.

Gen. Cao Gangchuan is leading a 17-member delegation from the Chinese Defence Ministry which is on a five day visit to India at the invitation of Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes. The delegation includes Gen. Zhang Shutian, Deputy Director Of General Political Department, PLA, Vice Admiral Wang Shouye, Deputy Commander of PLA Navy, Lt. Gen. Zheng Shouzeng, Deputy Commander Lanzhou Military Command, Lt. Gen. Meng Jinxi, Deputy Commander Of Chengdu Military Command and Commander of the Tibet Military Command, besides other members of the Chinese Ministry of Defence.

The visit takes place against the background of Defence Minister, Shri George Fernandes's visit to China at the invitation of Chinese government in April last year. Prior to that, the last exchange of visits at the level of Defence Ministers took place in 1992 when Defence Minister Sharad Pawar visited China and in 1994, when the Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Chi Haotian visited India.

The Chinese delegation visited Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in Bangalore on 27th of this month and the Western Naval Command at Mumbai on the 27th & 28th. In Mumbai, the delegation visited the Indian Naval Ships including the INS Vikrant. Soon after the conclusion of the talks the Chinese Defence Minister delivered a lecture at the National. Defence College in New Delhi. The three Service Chiefs also called on him during the course of the day. The visiting dignitary is slated to call on the Prime Minister this evening.

The Chinese delegation is scheduled to proceed to Agra tomorrow, where it would visit the 50 Para Brigade and the Air Force Station and the Taj Mahal, before leaving for Bangkok on 30th of this month.