New Delhi, May 25, 2005 (PTI)

India has offered to hold another round of bilateral naval exercises with the Chinese navy off the Indian coast.

The offer for holding the second Sino-Indian Naval exercises was given by the Chairman Chiefs of Staff Committee and Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash during an interaction with visiting Chief of the General Staff of Chinese armed forces Gen Liang Guanglie.

At the interaction, Guanglie supported the idea of holding of another joint Naval exercise soon. Indian and Chinese Navy held a joint exercise off the Shanghai coast in November 2003. Indian military observers were also invited to witness PLA exercises in 2004.

The PLA Chief today held a meeting with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee at South Block during which he expressed optimism on the progress of talks to solve the vexed boundary issue between the two countries.

The Chinese armed forces chief later left for Agra to witness exercises by the Parachute regiment and visit the Taj Mahal.

Before leaving for Agra, Guanglie had a one to one meeting with National Security Advisor M K Narayanan.