Pranab Visits Lanzhou Mily Area Command

New Delhi, June 1 (UNI) Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today visited the Headquarters of the Chinese Lanzhou Military Region -- controlling the country's largest physical area compared to other military regions.

With Headquartes located at Lanzhou in Gansu Province, the Lanzhou Military Region borders Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pak-occupied Kashmir and India.

Minister Mukherjee -- on a six-day visit to China that began last Sunday -- was given a warm reception by General Li Qianyuan, Commander of the Lanzhou Military Region.

According to reports received here, Gen Li escorted Mr Mukherjee to his office -- a departure from normal protocol -- and presented him with a traditional Chinese calligraphic painting done by himself in honour of the Guest.

The inscription on the scroll reads: ''Carry on friendship in harmony and common prosperity - presented to His Excellency Minister of Defence Pranab Mukherjee by General Li Qianyuan in the hope that friendship between our two countries will last for ever.'' Later, the Indian delegation was given a detailed briefing on the role and functions of the Lanzhou Military Area Command. This was followed by an interactive session where the members of the Indian delegation and officers of the Lanzhou Military Region discussed issues of mutual interest such as anti-terrorism, disaster management, training of military personnel, handling internal conflict situations and information warfare.

The Lanzhou Military Region -- even though sparsely populated -- retains its importance due to its location and the fact that it controls the Lop Nor region housing the nuclear research and missile-testing facilities in West China. Besides, the area encompasses the sensitive Xinjiang Province which is also oil rich.

Before reaching Lanzhou, Minister Mukherjee visited the Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang -- also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves and one of the most important symbols in China of the historical contacts between the peoples of the two countries and cultures.

The Mogao Grottoes -- placed by the UNESCO under the protection of the World Cultural Heritage List -- number 492 caves containing some 2,100 coloured structures and 45,000 square metres of murals.

The Defence Minister also inaugurated a new permanent exhbition of noted Indian photographer and art historian Benoy Behl at the Dunhuang Research Academy.

Titled 'The Path of Compassion' and containing 71 of Behl's photographs, the exhibition will take the visitors on a visual pilgrimage from the birth place of Buddha to his place of Nirvana, giving a comprehensive perspective of the Buddhist monuments and arts of India from the earliest times.

Behl is well-known for his pioneering low-light photography of ancient paintings, capturing their true and luminous colours more clearly than ever done before. He is also known for his extremely sensitive photography of Buddhist art which provides a deep insight into the gentle and compassionate message of the art.

UNI DG RL DS1625