China, India move step closer to set up military hotline

Beijing, Apr 18: India and China have moved a step closer in setting up a hotline between the two military headquarters as part of their efforts to improve border security.

China reacted positively toward setting up a military hotline with India on border security, Chinese Defence Minister Chang Wanquan said after meeting his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar.

Parrikar later said that "the Chinese have returned the draft of the memorandum on establishing a hotline between the two military headquarters. The issue should be closed within one or two months," he said.

The two sides were discussing the move to address tensions arising out of aggressive patrolling by both sides.

Chang spoke highly of the healthy and stable development of China-India relations in recent years, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

He called on the two sides to do a good job in implementing the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, enhance strategic communication, so as to safeguard common interests.

He also suggested the two sides strengthen defence exchanges and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility of the border area.

Vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission Fan Changlong who also met Parrikar said China regards bilateral ties from a strategic and long-term perspective and is willing to strengthen military-to-military cooperation to contribute more to peace, stability and prosperity of two countries.

PTI