Army Chief General J J Singh was on Monday accorded a red carpet ceremonial welcome on his maiden visit to China during which the militaries of both countries are expected to finalise modalities for holding their first-ever joint military exercise.
Singh was warmly welcomed by his Chinese counterpart General Liang Guanglie at the headquarters of the Central Military Commission, the top military organ of China.
"Welcome to China," Liang told Singh and the two exchanged pleasantries before the former led the Indian Army chief to inspect an impressive tri-service guard of honour by Chinese People's Liberation Army soldiers.
Describing Singh, also chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee of Indian Armed Forces, as "a friend," Liang noted that the exchanges and cooperation between the defence forces of the two nations have developed in recent times.
Singh, who was accompanied by Indian Ambassador to China Nirupama Rao and senior officials from the army, air force and navy, also met Vice Chairman of the CMC General Guo Boxiong.
Singh has already said India was going to propose the holding of the first-ever joint military exercise with the PLA.
"I am going to propose the holding of such manoeuvres," Singh told PTI.
"In principle, the Chinese have agreed to holding of such an exercise," Singh said adding, during his five-day visit 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.
"The visit by the chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Indian Armed Forces is expected to deepen understanding and strengthen mutual confidence between the two armed forces," an official source said.
Singh's visit comes soon after Indian and Chinese navies held joint naval exercises off the coast of Qingdao in eastern China.
Increased exchanges between the Indian and Chinese defence forces are taking place under a key memorandum of understanding signed during the visit of the then defence minister Pranab Mukherjee in May 2006.
Singh will call on Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong and meet with the new Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechie.
He will also visit PLA units and institutions in Wuhan, Hangzhou and Shanghai.
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