India and China are set to hold a number of high-level dialogues this year on a host of issues, including Defence, economic and strategic matters, to improve bilateral ties.
Deputy Chief of China’s People’s liberation Army (PlA) Wang Guanzhong will hold annual Defence Dialogue with the Indian Defence Secretary R K Mathur in New Delhi on Monday on issues concerning the defence forces including exchanges, training and joint military exercises.
The talks are expected to cover Defence exchanges, joint military exercises as well as steps to increase confidence building measures between the two forces in the light of the signing of the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) last year to avoid repetition of incursions by Chinese troops in the Depsang Valley in ladakh region.
The two countries held third round of military exercises last year after a gap of five years. This year’s exercises are due to be held in India. The Defence Dialogue is taking place in the backdrop of 17th round of border talks held in New Delhi headed by National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and China’s State Councillor Yang Jiechi.