With the objective of normalising relations between the two armies, a high level Chinese Army delegation is now visiting in India. It reached Sukna in Eastern Command on Monday for a two-day visit. Ties between the two countries were strained for last few months in the wake of nearly 70-day long stand-off between the Indian and Chinese Army in Doklam, Sikkim last year. Situation was defused after intervention at the highest political and diplomatic levels of two nations.

In consonance with the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President Xi Jinping during Wuhan summit, where both leaders reaffirmed the need to strengthen bilateral ties, a high level Chinese Army delegation led by Lt Gen Liu Xiaowu, Deputy Commander of Western Theatre Command arrived at Sukna, Indian Army said here on Tuesday.

Interestingly, the 33 Corps based at Sukna guards Doklam. The face off ensued after the Indian Army stopped a Chinese team from constructing a road there as it could have harmed India’s strategic interests. Sukna is near Siliguri, which is also known as Chicken’s Neck area, and connects the entire North-East with the country. The Chinese road could have enabled its Army to be just 50-dd kms from the critical area.

The first thaw between the two armies after the stand-off at Line of Actual Control (LAC) came when a group of nearly 20 Chinese officers and soldiers joined the Indian Army soldiers in performing yoga asanas in Ladakh on the International Yoga Day on June 21. Both the countries are also set to resume their joint anti-terrorist annual exercise in China later this year.

Meanwhile, the ongoing visit is seen as a major initiative to strengthen relationship between the militaries of both nations. The delegation comprising 10 senior military officials from China will interact with their military counterparts at 33 Corps headquarters. The delegation before arriving at Sukna, visited New Delhi and Agra.

India and China had endorsed the need to resume military ties when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met the Chinese President Xi Jinping for an informal summit at Wuhan in China in April this year. Towards that end, this visit by the military delegation to local military headquarters is a significant step forward towards increasing interactions at military commander’s level and implementation of various agreements to maintain peace and tranquility on the borders.

During their stay at Sukna, the visiting team will hold delegation level talks, besides interaction at various levels for better understanding of each other and exchange of ideas. The Indian delegation will be led by Trishakti Corps chief Lt General Pradeep M Bali. The Chinese delegation will depart on July five for their onward visit to Kolkata.

Courtesy: Pioneer:   04 July 2018 | Pioneer News Service | New Delhi