Chinese, Indian defense ministers reach many consensus in New Delhi

Visiting Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and his Indian counterpart A.K. Antony Tuesday reached many consensus in their talks during which he exchanged in-depth views on many issues including China-India relations, relations between the armed forces of the two countries, and regional and international security situation. Liang said that China and India, as two big neighbors of Asia, can only benefit from a peaceful relationship between them. Over the past few years, China-India strategic cooperation partnership has seen a momentum of healthy and steady development. The two countries have also seen a continuous expansion of the field of exchanges and cooperation, which has brought substantial benefits to their people. As an important part of China-India relations, the ties between the armed forces of the two countries have been promoted further as they have maintained high-level exchange of visits and contacts, and friendly cooperation in the fields of defense consultation, joint training programs, personnel trainings, interchanges between the border troops, exchanges in military academies and special fields and anti-pirates operation in the Gulf of Aden, said Liang. He further said in his remarks relayed by Xinhua news agency that China always holds a positive attitude towards promoting exchanges and cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries and is willing to work with India to increase mutual trust, and push forward the healthy and steady development of relations between the two countries and the two armed forces, with a long-term perspective and mutually tolerant attitude. Indian defence minister Antony on his part, said that as two emerging powers, it will benefit the interests of both countries as well as the whole world for India and China to implement the principle of peaceful co-existence, and carry out friendly cooperation. India-China relationship is experiencing a good opportunity of development, he said, adding that India is willing to maintain close exchanges and strengthen cooperation with China and to contribute to the comprehensive development of relations between the two countries and two armed forces. as well as the maintenance of regional peace and stability. Liang arrived in India on Sunday for a friendly visit at the invitation of Antony.