Article Posted on : - Nov 10, 2011

NEW DELHI (PTI): Defence ties between India and China are back on track with a Chinese Army delegation visiting the country and interacting with the military brass here on promoting bilateral exchanges.

Led by Lt Gen Lang Youliang from Tibet Military Command of Chengdu Military Region, the eight-member People's Liberation Army (PLA) delegation visited various Indian army establishments and interacted with their counterparts during their stay between November 3-9, army officials said here.

"The visit by PLA delegation has put the defence exchanges between the two countries back on track. Both sides expressed the desire to further promote bilateral defence exchanges and observed that peace and tranquillity continues to be maintained between the border troops," they said.

The PLA delegation visited New Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai and visited the installations there.

After a freeze in ties following a row over Beijing's refusal to grant visa to Northern Army Commander Lt Gen B S Jaswal saying he was serving in a sensitive area - Jammu and Kashmir, India has decided to resume the annual defence dialogue with China in January next year to discuss several key issues between the two nations.

The visit of the Chinese Army delegation comes after India sent its military team under the leadership of Major General Gurmeet Singh of the Northern Command in June this year.

The Indian army delegation had visited Beijing, Shanghai and Urumqi.