China and India militaries should contribute to relations, deputy defense chief says

The Chinese and Indian militaries should manage conflicts appropriately and contribute to the development of China-Indian relations for the people of both countries, said Sun Jianguo, deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission.

The two countries' relations enjoy positive momentum and they should continue to cooperate to safeguard peace and security in border areas, Sun said when meeting with Indian Defense Minister Shri Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday.

Sun was in New Delhi attending the eighth meeting of the China-India Defense and Security Consultation, an annual dialogue between senior defense official designed to enhance strategic mutual trust and pragmatic cooperation between the two nations.

Sun said China insists on peaceful development and firmly pursues a defensive national defense policy and regional diplomacy based on amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness. President Xi Jinping has met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a number of occasions in recent years and reached consensus on strengthening strategic dialogue, deepening mutual cooperation and pursuing mutual development.

Parrikar responded by saying that China-India relations go back a long way and have been positively served by frequent visits by the leaders of both countries. He hopes the two countries can increase interaction between senior officials, enhance exchanges in various technical fields, jointly promote security in border areas, and reinforce cooperation between the two militaries.