India, China rehearse joint training exercise

Kunming, China, Dec 20 (UNI) The Indian contingent along with its Chinese counterpart today rehearsed the Sino-India joint training exercise ''Hand-in-Hand 2007'', beginning here tomorrow.

Talking to UNI, Col J S Budhwar, who will lead the Indian side, said any kind of cooperation between the two armies would have very positive effect on the overall relationship of the two countries.

''If the two armies come together, tension would be reduced and this would prove useful not only for the forces but it would go a long way in cementing the ties between the two nations,'' he said adding that communication plays an important role and we all would see the positive results of it very soon.

Giving example of the newly started air services between Kolkata and Kunming, Col Budhwar said now they would have to introduce more flights on the route as more and more businessmen would be travelling in each other's nations very soon.

Later in the evening, Major General M G Xiongzuoming of Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) hosted a banquet in honour of the Indian army.

Brig D S Dadwal, Col Budhwar and other senior Indian officers were present on the occasion.

UNI