China will continue to push forward military exchanges and
cooperation with India in an effort to safeguard regional security
and stability, a senior Chinese military official said in Kunming
on Tuesday.
Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of General Staff of the People's
Liberation Army (PLA) of China, made the remarks at a press
conference following the conclusion of the first-ever Sino-Indian
anti-terror military training held over the past five days in
southwest China's Yunnan Province.
Military cooperation will be carried on in the spirit of mutual
respect, equal consultation and mutual benefits to contribute to
the building of a harmonious region with long-lasting peace and
common prosperity, said Lieutenant General Ma, also head of the
Chinese military observer delegation.
Promoting military communication and cooperation will play an
important role in developing strategic partnership of the two
neighbors, also the leading developing nations in the world, Ma
noted.
He recalled a number of bilateral military exchanges in recent
years, including official visits, meetings on defense and safety
issues, and searching and rescue maneuver on the sea, saying they
reflected the common efforts and desire of both sides in deepening
cooperation.
The anti-terrorism military training, which began on Friday
morning, was held to implement the provisions of the Memorandum of
Understanding for Exchanges and Cooperation in the Field of Defense
signed between the defense ministries of China and India on May 29,
2006.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang has said that the
military training was intended to enhance mutual understanding and
trust and strengthen bilateral exchanges in the field of
anti-terrorism, deter the "three evil forces" of terrorism,
separatism and extremism, and promote the development of the
bilateral strategic partnership.
(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2007)
