March 2013 News 11: INDIA, CHINA AGREE TO HOLD JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES

INDIA, CHINA AGREE TO HOLD JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES

Officials from India and China on January 14, 2013 embarked on two days of negotiations with the goal of resuming joint military exercises this year that signal increased trust levels between China and India. Such exercises were stopped in 2009 over the issue of China issuing stapled visas to residents of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The two sides reviewed ongoing measures to ensure peace and tranquility on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) between the two countries, since this is a strategic under standing between the two governments", a statement by the Indian embassy in Beijing said after the meeting between officials of the two countries   led   by Defence   Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and   General Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman of China's Central Military  Chairman of China's Central Military Commission.

During the talks, Xu said the two countries have enough wisdom and ability to handle their  relationship and are able to pave a healthy and stable development path for it.

"The two sides agreed upon a plan of bilateral military exchanges for 2013, including their next joint military exercise," it said, reporting on the 5th India-China Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD). They agreed to hold the next ADD in New Delhi at a convenient time.

During the talks, Xu said the two countries have enough wisdom and ability to handle their relationship and are able to pave a healthy and stable development path for it, the official Xinhua news agency said.

China wants to "promote the strategic partnership for peace and prosperity and make a positive contribution to world and regional peace and stability" it said.

Sharma said that consultations between the two sides should focus on commonalities which outweigh differences.