India, China Agree on Expanding Bilateral Exchanges

Top defence officials endorse strengthening relations through dialogue and ensuring mutual high-level visits at different levels between the two militaries

India and China have agreed to strengthen military ties and enhance bilateral security dialogue, at the 9th India-China Annual Defence and Security Dialogue, held in Beijing, China on 13 November 2018.

The interaction, attended by the top generals as well as young army officers from both sides, underlined the importance of dialogue as an important mechanism between the two countries for consultations on defence and security matters. The need to further enhance military-to-military ties in order to strengthen political and strategic mutual trust between the two countries was emphasised upon.

The two countries agreed to enhance exchanges and interactions through reciprocal high-level visits between the two ministries of defence as well as between military commands, joint training exercises, mutual visits by defence personnel, including mid-level and cadet officers were also agreed upon.

“Both sides reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity in the India-China border areas, implementing the consensus of Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping, and specific additional confidence building measures at the operational level. The two sides also had exchange of views on regional and global issues,” said the press release by the Indian embassy in China.

The India-China relations have improved to an extent after the Doklam standoff last year, the two sides have since continued to better relations and taken various steps to avoid any kind of escalation in the relations.