Major General to visit China to resume military exchanges

New Delhi, Jun 17: India has decided to run over military exchanges with China after a year's halt. Hence, a Major-General based in Jammu and Kashmir would lead a delegation that would leave for a six-day trip to China on Sunday, Jun 19.

Major General Gurmeet Singh, commander of the Delta Force which is part of the specialised anti-insurgency Rashtriya Rifles deployed in J & K, would be travelling to Beijing and Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, China"s western province.

The delegation consists of eight members that would be in China till Friday, Jun 24. According to sources, Gurmeet Singh had been issued a “proper visa" from China. India has refused to recognise stapled visas as valid travel documents.

The high-level bilateral defence exchanges with China had been put on hold since July, 2010 after Beijing refused to issue a stamped visa to the then Northern Army Commander, Lt Gen. B S Jaswal. This has been seen as a major step taken forward in India-China relations.

The decision to resume military exchanges with China was reconsidered during Prime Minister Manmohan Singh"s visit to China in April, 2011. After Singh's meeting with Chinese President, National Security Adviser Shivshanker Menon had said that it was agreed a multi-command Indian Army delegation would be visiting China by the end of 2011.

OneIndia News