In a clear sign of warming up of India-China military-to-military relations, a high-level Indian Army delegation would visit Tibet for the first time this week.
The delegation led by General Officer Commanding (4th Corps) Lt Gen Mahendra Singh, which arrived in Beijing on Sunday, will hold talks with senior Chinese military leaders on a range of issues of mutual interest, official sources told PTI.
The visit of the delegation, comprising five Brigadier-level officers among others, is yet another move by the governments of the two neighbouring nations to enhance mutual trust and understanding. The delegation would be the first military group to be allowed into Tibet by the Chinese.
The visit comes a day after the navies of India and China successfully concluded their first-ever joint maritime exercise in the East China Sea, enhancing mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries.
India and China decided to step up military-to-military ties during the visit of Defence Minister George Fernandes to China in April and that of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in June.
During Vajpayee's visit, India had recognised the Tibet Autonomous Region as a part of the People's Republic of China, which was welcomed by Beijing.
The visit to Lhasa, capital of Tibet, is expected to further enhance the level of trust and cooperation between the armies of the two nations.
