By IANS,
New Delhi : India and China Friday began their annual defence dialogue after a two-year gap following a thaw in their military relations that had witnessed a dip in 2010 after Beijing refused to issue a proper visa to an Indian Army general posted in Jammu and Kashmir.
The fourth round of the annual dialogue began with India’s Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma and Chinese Deputy Chief of General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) General Ma Xiaotian leading each side’s delegation in the talks being held here.
The third round of talks was held in January 2010.
The defence top brass, representing all wings of their respective military leadership, is meeting here to exchange their perspectives on regional and global security issues, apart from planning for their 2012 military exchanges, a government official said.
The two sides also reviewed their ongoing confidence building measures on the about 3,400-km-long borders. They also discussed the maritime aspect of security considering the recent differences that they have had over navigation in the South China Sea.
The Chinese delegation arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport Friday morning and the dialogue began soon after.
Ma also called on Defence Minister A.K. Antony in the afternoon, officials said.