Army chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag on Tuesday left for the Chinese city of Nanjing where he is due to visit the PlA’s eastern theatre command as well as army command college that trains senior officers.
Gen Suhag, who held talks with China’s Central Military Commission (CMC) Vice Chairman General Xu Qiliang and head of China’s ground forces Gen li Zuocheng, wrapped up his visit to Beijing and left for field visits, officials said.
At Nanjing he is also scheduled to interact with General liu Yuejun, Commander of the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s liberation Army (PlA).
He will also visit military installations including an infantry division and army air defence brigades. He is scheduled to go to Xian before returning home on November 24.
Gen Suhag is visiting China at the invitation of General Fan Changlong, another Vice Chairman, CMC who is currently visiting Tanzania.
During Gen Suhag’s meeting with Xu yesterday, both the generals “reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of defence exchanges and the need to keep the borders tranquil and peaceful,” an Indian Embassy statement said.
In a press release on yesterday’s talks between Gen Suhag and Gen Xu, the Chinese Defence Ministry quoted Xu as saying that the militaries of the two countries should serve as the booster and stabiliser in the development of relations between China and India.
Xu said that China and India have a long history of friendship, and the Chinese side attaches great importance to developing relations between with India.