The Hindu : National : Chinese team visits Western Naval Command

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 29, 2005

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National

Chinese team visits Western Naval Command

Special Correspondent

Visit to promote relations between armed forces: PLA chief

— Photo: AP

STRENGTHENING FRIENDSHIP: Gen. Liang Gaunglie, Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army of China, with Vice-Admiral Madanjit Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Naval Command, on board the guided missile destroyer INS Mumbai, in Mumbai on Saturday.

MUMBAI: The Western Naval Command literally gave a red carpet welcome to Chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army Liang Gaunglie and a delegation accompanying him here on Saturday at its headquarters, INS Angre.

Gen. Liang was received by Vice Admiral Madanjit Singh, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Command. He took the general salute at a specially erected post under a ceremonial canopy. He also inspected a guard of honour.

Looking forward

Later, talking to presspersons through a PLA interpreter, Gen. Liang said the purpose of his visit was to promote relations between the armed forces of the two countries. Besides a high-level exchange of military views, he said, he looked forward to holding joint general exercises with India.

Warmth and enthusiasm

The Chinese General said the warmth and enthusiasm with which he and his team were received at all the Indian military establishments in the past six days showed the great importance India attached to the visit.

Gen. Liang said in his eight-day visit to the country, he had held talks with Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and chiefs of the armed forces on how to promote India-China defence relationship in future.

``There should be more exchange of observers, bilateral exercises, military exercises and exchange in professional delegation. Joint military exercises between our country and the three branches of the armed forces in India, will definitely strengthen the defence relationship between the two countries," he said.

Gen. Liang and the delegation later interacted with the senior officers of the Western Naval Command, the principal combat organisation of the Indian Navy.

He was taken on board INS Mumbai, a home-built destroyer considered to be a frontline warship of the Western Fleet. He also visited the museum ship, INS Vikrant, where post-Independence naval history is showcased along with some equipment and aircraft.

Special performance

Admiral Singh not only hosted a reception in honour of the visiting Chinese dignitary but also arranged for a special performance of the Indian classical dance, Bharatnatyam.

This is the fourth visit of a senior Chinese military leader to Mumbai in the past one year. Earlier, Chinese Defence Minister Gen. Cao Gangchuan visited Mumbai in March 2004. Gen. Liang completed his week-long tour of the Indian armed forces on Saturday.

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