Expert: China-India joint military training boosts mutual trust
5/12/2008 16:21
Chinese and Indian armies will begin the "Hand in Hand 2008" joint
anti-terrorism training from Dec. 6 to 14 in Belgaum of India's Karnataka
state.
"This joint training is aimed at enhancing mutual understanding and
trust, and promoting the development of the relations between the two armed
forces," Ouyang Wei, professor of the University of National Defense, said in an
exclusive interview with Xinhua in Beijing today.
The joint training involves
the use of technical equipment, exchanges of theories, squad tactics and a
comprehensive training session.
The joint training is of no special
background and will not target at any third party.
"Sino-Indian military
relations have been growing in recent years, thanks to increasing high-level
visits and the improvement of bilateral political relations," Ouyang
said.
The two navies have conducted joint search and rescue maneuvers. The
border security troops of the two countries have reached consensus on
maintaining peace in the border area. Both armed forces have sent delegations to
witness the maneuvers of the other side. There have also been exchanges between
military academies.
The armies of the two countries conducted their first
anti-terrorism joint training in southwest China's Yunnan Province last
year.
It is also the second time for China to send military forces to south
Asia for joint military maneuvers after the China-Pakistan "Friendship 2006"
joint anti-terrorism military maneuvre.
China and India are the world's
biggest developing countries. Peace and friendship between them is not only in
the interests of both countries, but also important for bringing peace,
stability and prosperity to south Asia, said Ouyang.
He said in addition to
traditional security threats, the world is also facing increasing
non-traditional security menaces, and that the armed forces of China and India
are shouldering increasing responsibility in coping with terrorism, natural
disasters, pirates and climate change.
"Increasing dialogue and exchanges
between the two armed forces will not only promote the two countries' mutual
understanding and trust, but also to promote their respective military
building," said Ouyang.
He added facts have proved that a trusty and
cooperative military relationship needs long-term exchanges and cultivation from
the both sides.
Ouyang said with the advancement of defense modernization,
China's armed forces are getting opener and more transparent. The People's
Liberation Army has held 25 joint military maneuvers and four joint onshore
training with the armed forces of 21 countries since 2002, including five joint
military maneuvers with Pakistan and four joint training with
India.
Xinhua
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