Antony will be on a 4-day official visit to China. He will be accompanied by a high level delegation including the Defence Secretary, RK Mathur, GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, Lt General Dalbir Singh; FOC-in-C, Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Satish Soni and other officers of the Defence Ministry and the Armed Forces.
The last visit of an Indian Defence Minister to China was in 2006 when Pranab Mukherjee had visited that country.
During the visit, Antony will have formal delegation level talks with his counterpart, State Councillor and the Minister of National Defence of the PRC, General Chang Wanquan. Both the ministers are expected to discuss a number of issues, including those related to maintenance of peace and tranquillity on the border; exchanges and interactions between the Armed Forces of both sides and matters relating to regional and global security.
The last 16th round of talks between the Special Representatives of India and China on the Boundary Question took place in Beijing on June 28-29 after the Chinese intrusion into the Indian territory and its subsequent withdrawal.
The National Security Adviser of India Shivshankar Menon led the Indian side while the Chinese side was led by the State Councillor Yang Jiechi. The talks were reported to be held in a productive, constructive and forward-looking atmosphere.
The Special Representatives of both sides discussed on a framework for a resolution of the boundary issue, which constitutes the second step of a three-stage process.
As directed by the Prime Ministers of India and China, the Special Representatives also discussed the maintenance of peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas including possible additional confidence building measures, ways and means of strengthening existing mechanisms for consultation and coordination on border affairs and methodology to enhance the efficiency of communications between the two sides.
The Special Representatives also reviewed the status of bilateral relations in the wake of the recent landmark visit to India of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. They discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The National Security Adviser Menon also called on the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.
Antony to leave for Beijing to streamline border talks
ASHOK B SHARMA - 2013-07-03 13:34
New Delhi: Following the conclusion of the recent border talks between India and China at the level of special representatives, the Indian Defence Minister AK Antony will be on his way to Beijing on Thursday to further streamline the issue at a delegation level talks with his Chinese counterpart.