Army Chief, General J J Singh arrived in Beijing on Sunday for talks on the modalities for holding the first-ever joint military exercise between the two countries and initiate further steps to consolidate the confidence-building measures along the disputed border areas.
"I am going to propose the holding of such manoeuvres," Singh, also chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces, said on the eve of his departure for Beijing on a week-long visit as the head of a tri-service delegation.
"In principle, the Chinese have agreed to holding of such an exercise," he told PTI.
Singh, heading a tri-service delegation on an official visit from May 21 to 25, said that during talks with the Chinese side, he hopes to work out the details of the joint military exercise and whether such a first-ever exercise would be held on Chinese or Indian soil.
Though the Indian and Chinese armies have held regular border bonhomie meetings and sporting events, it could be the first time that the two armies, which have almost been locked in an "eyeball to eyeball" confrontation all along the Sino-Indian Himalayan border for over four decades, would be holding joint exercises.
While the border issue is expected to come up for discussions, the vexed topic is being handled by the special representatives of the two prime ministers, who have so far held 10 rounds of negotiations to find a mutually acceptable solution.
Meanwhile, the border area between India and China continues to be peaceful.
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