New Delhi, May 24, 2005 (Statesman News Service)

The visiting Chinese Chief of General Staff, Gen. Liang Guanglie, and the three Indian Service Chiefs today held wide-ranging talks aimed at enhancing cooperation and implementing a new set of confidence-building measures along the border.

Gen. Liang, who was accorded an inter-services guard of honour, held extensive talks with his Indian counterpart Gen. JJ Singh. He was also given a briefing on India’s security perspectives and concerns. Gen. Liang, who is member of the powerful Chinese Central Military Commission, also held talks with the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee and Naval Chief Admiral Arun Prakash and Air Chief SP Tyagi.

The issues discussed included holding more flag meetings, dealing with inadvertent border crossing into each others territories, measures to deal with air-space violations, boosting military to military exchanges along the McMahon line and stepping up exchanges in each other’s military training institutes.

The Chinese military chief is accompanied by an 18-member team from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). His visit is being viewed as a move towards building up the momentum in defence ties gained during Chinese Prime Minister Mr Wen Jiabao’s visit to India earlier this year.