Friday, August 15, 2008

2nd Sino-Indian military drill to begin from December

2nd Sino-Indian military drill to begin from December (NSI News Source Info) New Delhi, August 15, 2008: India-China-Military Drill Building on the goodwill generated in last year's ground-breaking military drill, Indian and Chinese armies are likely to hold their second joint exercise in December on Indian territory to enhance the steadily improving ties between the two powerful militaries of the world. A high-level Chinese military delegation will visit New Delhi later this month to finalize details of the joint exercise which officials say will be much 'bigger' this year. "The second joint military exercise between People's Liberation Army (PLA) and Indian Army is likely to be held in December," Indian official media reported quoting a top Chinese diplomat. "A Chinese delegation will be in New Delhi after the Olympic Games to finalize dates and other details of the exercise," he said. Asked about preparations of the PLA, he said they are looking forward to participating in the joint exercise as it will help enhancing ties between the two armies. In a sign of warmer ties, India and China conducted their first ever joint exercise code-named 'Hand-in-Hand 2007' at Kunming Military Academy and in a hilly terrain near Kunming in China's Yunnan province from December 21 to 25 last year with the spotlight on anti-terrorism drill. As many as 103 troops from the Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry and an equal number from People's Liberation Army took part in the landmark exercise as part of confidence-building measures that upgraded the Sino-Indian military ties. An official in the Defense Ministry said the 'details of the exercise are being worked out' for this year's exercise which will take ties between the two largest armies to a 'new high'.

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