Top Chinese officers to train in India
Fri Dec 09 2011, New Delhi:
Taking defence ties between the nations up a notch, a go ahead has been given by the government for the inclusion of senior Chinese armed forces officers for training courses in India and the formal mechanism is expected to be finalised during defence talks that will take place in New Delhi on Friday.
While exchanges at lower levels have been taking place, it has been decided to invite senior officers of Colonel and above rank to attend the Higher Defence Orientation Course (HDOC) that is conducted by the Army War College in Mhow. The six-week course is conducted for foreign officers as well as senior officers of the Indian Army.
The two sides are expected to work out the dates for a joint army exercise to take forward bilateral ties that got stuck after a row over China's objection to a Lt Gen from Jammu and Kashmir heading an Indian Army delegation to Beijing. The next round of exercises will be carried out next year in China.
While two rounds of exercises have taken place, the process got stalled last year. The two sides are expected to discuss various issues, including schedule for defence exchanges and visits next year, during the fourth Annual Defence Dialogue on Friday.
The dialogue will be chaired by India's Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma and the Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Chinese PLA, Lt Gen Ma Xiaotian. The dialogue is taking place after a series of exchanges of military delegations on both sides in recent months.
Top Chinese officers to train in India - Indian Express