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China ready for "constructive partnership" with India

Anil K Joseph in Beijing

China Monday said it is ready to work with India to realise the consensus reached between the top political leadership of the two neighbouring countries to enhance bilateral ties.

"China is ready to work with India to realise the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries," Chinese Defence Minister General Chi Haotian told visiting Chief of the Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis, during a meeting in Beijing.

Chi, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and a senior cabinet minister, said the leaders of the two neighbouring states established a "constructive cooperative partnership oriented towards the 21st century" when Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited India in 1996.

He noted that Sino-Indian military contacts have kept developing in recent years, adding that chiefs of the army, navy and air staff of India have visted China.

Chi said he believed that the ongoing visit by Tipnis would help further Sino-Indian military relations, the official Xinhua news agency reported.

Tipnis said the Sino-Indian relations conform to the fundamental interests of people of the two countries, and benefit peace and stability of the Asian-Pacific region and the world.

India is willing to further its relations with China and the Chinese army, he added.

Earlier, Tipnis called on the Chief of Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Gen Fu Quanyou, who called for increased Sino-Indian military-to-military contacts and exchanges that would promote mutual trust and enhance regional and world peace and stability.

He said that China and India have shared common interests in international and regional affairs, and the two sides have more similarities than differences.

On Sino-Indian military relations, Fu said the contacts between the two armed forces promote mutual understanding and trust, and the Chinese PLA is ready to work with its Indian counterpart to develop friendly relations.

Tipnis, the first IAF chief to visit China in 51 years of Sino-Indian diplomatic ties, said it's important for both India and China to strengthen contact, adding that New Delhi is willing to further its cooperation with Beijing on the basis of the five principles of peaceful coexistence ( Panchsheel).

Tipnis arrived Sunday for a week-long official visit to China as guest of PLA Air Force commander, Gen Lu Shunyao. The IAF chief, accompanied by a four-member official delegation, will also visit facilities of the PLA Air Force in Xi'an as well as in Chengdu.

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