New Delhi: Transgressions by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) along the nearly 3500 km long India - China border and the border dispute will dominate Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's maiden visit to China this weekend.
The Defence Minister will be China for three days starting April 17. He will also be the first Indian Defence Minister to visit the Chengdu Military Command which looks at Tibet and the crucial middle and eastern sectors of the border with India.
Mr Parrikar's visit will be followed by one from National Security Advisor and PM's Special Representative on Boundary Issue, Ajit Doval. Mr Doval will meet his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on April 21 and 22.
Last year, transgressions by the Chinese PLA saw a marked decline of as much as 40 per cent over the previous years. Government sources attribute this drop to better understanding between the two sides and clearer perception of the border.
Several areas along the border are claimed by both India and China giving rise to differing perceptions of where the border lies. These differences lead to transgressions when Chinese PLA patrols tread into areas both sides claim as their own.
"The Defence Minister will be meeting the Chinese Premier and the Vice Chairman of the powerful Chinese Central Military Commission. Although border incidents have declined, India is keen to have a quieter border," a top Ministry of Defence Official told NDTV. Mr Parrikar will meet Chinese Premier Li Kegiang on April 18.
Resolving the border dispute was one of the key issues discussed with the Chinese when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Beijing in May 2015. India and China had then resolved "continuously push forward negotiation on the framework for a boundary settlement based on the outcomes and common understanding." They committed themselves to "seek a fair, reasonable" and "acceptable solution as early as possible."
The Defence Minister will be China for three days starting April 17. He will also be the first Indian Defence Minister to visit the Chengdu Military Command which looks at Tibet and the crucial middle and eastern sectors of the border with India.
Mr Parrikar's visit will be followed by one from National Security Advisor and PM's Special Representative on Boundary Issue, Ajit Doval. Mr Doval will meet his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi on April 21 and 22.
Several areas along the border are claimed by both India and China giving rise to differing perceptions of where the border lies. These differences lead to transgressions when Chinese PLA patrols tread into areas both sides claim as their own.
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Resolving the border dispute was one of the key issues discussed with the Chinese when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Beijing in May 2015. India and China had then resolved "continuously push forward negotiation on the framework for a boundary settlement based on the outcomes and common understanding." They committed themselves to "seek a fair, reasonable" and "acceptable solution as early as possible."
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