The delegation led by Lt Gen Liu Xiaowu, the Deputy Commander of the Western Theatre Command, arrived in Delhi on Monday

NEW DELHI: A high level Chinese military delegation led by the Deputy Commander of China’s Western Theatre Command arrived at Sukna on Tuesday and will interact with their counterparts at the headquarters of the Indian Army’s 33 Corps, which is tasked with guarding the contentious Doklam region.

The delegation led by Lt Gen Liu Xiaowu, the Deputy Commander of the Western Theatre Command, arrived in Delhi on Monday. The visit consisting of 10 members is in India until July 6. They met their Indian counterparts in Delhi. Officials also said that the delegation met Indian Army Vice Chief Lt Gen Devraj Anbu.

An army statement issued today said, “In consonance with the vision of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President Xi Jinping during Wuhan summit, where both leaders reaffirmed the need to strengthen bilateral ties, a high level Chinese Army delegation led by Lt Gen Liu Xiaowu, Deputy Commander of Western Theatre Command arrived at Sukna yesterday afternoon (Tuesday).”

The delegation before arriving at Sukna, visited Agra. The visit is being seen as a major initiative to strengthen relationship between the militaries of the two countries. “The delegation comprising 10 senior military officials from China will interact with their military counterparts at HQ 33 Corps,” said the statement.

The Indian delegation will be led by Lt Gen Pradeep M Bali, the General Officer Commanding of 33 Corps. During their stay at Sukna, the Chinese delegation will hold delegation level talks, besides interaction at various levels for “better understanding of each other and exchange of ideas”. On July 5, the PLA delegation will depart for Kolkata, where the army’s Eastern Command headquarters is located.

This is the first high level military visit to India from China after last year’s Doklam standoff. In mid June last year, Indian personnel based at Doka La, Sikkim had stopped a Chinese construction party from building a road in the Doklam area. This marked the beginning of the over two month long face-off. In August end, there was the ‘expeditious disengagement’ of border personnel of India and China at the Doklam face-off site.