The defence ministers of India and China have agreed to step up strategic communication between the two nations, a year after the militaries of both countries were engaged in a 73 days of face-off in Doklam plateau, a tri-junction between India, China and Bhutan.
On Thursday, visiting Chinese Defence Minister Lieutenant General Wei Fenghe was given a ceremonial guard of honour in the lawns of the South Block, where delegation level talks with his counterpart Nirmala Sitharaman was held. But incidentally, Fenghe, decided to skip Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate, from where usually visiting dignitaries especially defence ministers begin their official engagements, as a mark of respect to the martyrs. Fenghe, who arrived on Tuesday on his four day long visit, did not pay homage at the war memorial for the unknown Indian soldiers who lost their lives in the multiple wars fought by the country.
The meeting between the defence ministers happened a day after, Beijing offered to play a 'constructive role' in improving the relations between Indian and Pakistan.
A 30-member high powered delegation from China including Deputy Chief of Western Theatre Command, Deputy Chief of Tibet Military Command, Chief of International Military Cooperation and a top military official from Xianjiang Military Command were present in the talks, which went beyond an hour from the scheduled time.
During the talks both countries agreed to work towards full implementation of ongoing confidence building measures along the border as well as to improve the military-to-military interactions. It was decided to expand the engagement between the armed forces relating to training, joint exercises and other professional interactions. Both sides also decided to work towards a new bilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on defence exchanges and cooperation to replace the MoU signed in 2006, according to a statement issued by the defence ministry.
Official sources also claimed that there has been a proposal from China for joint-patrolling on the LAC. But it is not expected to move forward as India is not keen on it. No concrete decision on setting up hotline between the top commanders of the two armies was taken in the much awaited talk between the two defence ministers.
The defence ministry statement further added that in order to ensure peace and tranquillity on the border, both ministers agreed on greater interactions at the working level, including operationalisation of the hotline between the relevant departments of the armed forces.