Beijing, July 06: The proposed first-ever Sino-Indian joint military exercise would increase mutual understanding and trust between the armed forces of the two Asian giants and also promote regional as well as global security and stability, analysts have said. "The decision to enhance military exchanges between China and India is an important step to enhance bilateral relations," professor M A Jiali from the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), told newspersons here. Welcoming the decision of the Chinese and Indian governments to allow their navies to hold the first-ever joint naval exercises later this year, ma said the move would boost mutual understanding and trust between the two neighbouring nations, especially since the two sides have reached wide-ranging consensus during the recent visit to Beijing by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Official sources said that the green light for stepped up military exchanges and to hold the first-ever joint naval exercises in the form of "search and rescue" drill was given after Vajpayee had in-depth talks with top Chinese leaders, including the chairman of China's powerful Central Military Commission (CMC), Jiang Zemin here.

The ground work for enhanced India-China military exchanges was undertaken by defence minister George Fernandes during his first-ever visit to China in April, the sources said adding that the date and venue of the joint exercises were being worked out by the two sides.
Bureau Report