29 August 2012

India: Minister of National Defence, China to Visit India


The Minister of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China, General Liang Guanglie will pay an official visit to India from 02-06 September, 2012. He will be accompanied by a 23-member delegation, which includes high ranking members of the Chinese defence and military establishment. 

During his visit, Gen. Liang will meet the Defence Minister Shri AK Antony. Detailed delegation level talks are planned to be conducted between the two sides, in which a number of matters relating to defence and security will be raised.Enhancement of measures for maintenance of peace and tranquility along the borders and facilitation of confidence building measures between the Armed Forces of both the countries are expected to be discussed. The two sides will also discuss measures to promote defence cooperation between their Armed Forces. 

The visit of the Chinese dignitary is part of the reciprocal exchanges of Defence Minister level visits between both countries. A Defence Minister level visit to China had last taken place in May 2006. General Liang’s visit will be the first by a Chinese Defence Minister to India since Gen. Cao Gangchuan’s visit in March 2004.