By Xinhua
Beijing : The joint anti-terrorism military training exercises between Chinese and Indian ground troops are aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and trust, Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said here Thursday.
He told reporters that the training will deter the “three evil forces” of terrorism, separatism and extremism and promote the development of bilateral strategic partnership.
About 100 Indian troops arrived in southwest China’s Yunnan Province Wednesday for the joint anti-terrorism military training with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The training, code-named “Hand-in-hand-2007” will continue till Dec 27 in Yunan capital Kunming. The PLA has also sent about 100 soldiers to attend the nine-day training, and both sides will send military observers to the exercise.
Qin said China and India, as two important neighbours and largest developing nations, agree on safeguarding world peace and promoting development and cooperation.
As to the border dispute between the two countries, the spokesman said both nations, as initiators of the five principles of peaceful co-existence, know how to resolve their differences.
The two nations agreed that the border issue should be solved at the earliest through dialogue and consultations in an equal and friendly manner, Qin said.