Army Chief General Suhag Visits PLA General While Both Armies Conduct Hand-In-Hand Friendship Exercise In Pune

NationalDefence Bureau,

New Delhi, 21 November 2016

General Dalbir Singh, COAS visits his Chinese counterpart while both the Indian and Chinese Army are engaged in friendly war exercise codename “Hand-In-Hand” back in India. General Suhag was welcomed by General Li Zuocheng, Commander People’s Liberation Army with a Guard of Honour at the Bayi Building On 21 November 2016. Later, both held official talks in which a wide range of issues of mutual interest were discussed. General Dalbir Singh extended an invitation to General Li to visit India. General Li accepted the invitation and said he hoped to visit India soon. General Singh and General Li also noted with appreciation the 6th India-China Joint Training Exercise 'Hand-in-Hand' 2016 which is currently going on in India and agreed to further expand defense exchanges between the two armies.

General Dalbir Singh also called on General Xu Qiliang, Vice Chairman, CMC. During the call-on both of them reiterated their desire to keep up the momentum of defence exchanges and the need to keep the borders tranquil and peaceful. General Singh extended an invitation to General Xu to visit India, which was accepted.

The Chief of Army Staff's delegation is comprised of four senior Army Officers, holding key appointments in the Indian Army. General Dalbir Singh will also visit Xian and Nanjing, where he will visit key military installations, as well as interact with General Liu Yuejun, Commander of the Eastern Theatre Command.

EXERCISE HAND IN HAND:

The sixth India China Joint Training Exercise “Hand – in – Hand 2016” is being held at the parade ground in Aundh Military Camp, Pune. Maj Gen Y K Joshi, Additional Director General of Military Operations of Indian Army and Maj Gen Wang Haijiang of the People’s Liberation Army and other senior army officers of both the countries were present. The aim of the joint exercise is to acquaint both the Armies with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of counter terrorism environment.

The Opening Ceremony on 16 November was followed by both the contingents displaying their weapons which included assault rifles, grenade launchers and other sophisticated equipment. The Ceremony concluded with an enthralling and mesmerising display of India martial arts of Kalyaripattu, Khukri dance and Malkhamb by soldiers of Indian Army and a massed martial arts display by the Chinese contingent. The exercise will terminate on 27 Nov 2016.

 Earlier on 15 November, the Chinese contingent from the 13 Group Army, Chengdu Military Region comprising of one Infantry Company along with supporting staff landed at the Lohegaon airfield in two IL- 76 Aircrafts from China. The 13 day schedule is focused upon training on crossing of obstacles, special heliborne operations, firing of various weapons, handling & neutralization of improvised explosive devices and conduct of cordon & search operations in insurgency and terrorism environment.

         

The basic objective of the training is enhancing confidence and trust between the two armies which may be called upon to grapple with anti terrorism operations under the UN mandate. The conduct of Joint Military Exercises is also an important step to uphold the values of Peace, Prosperity and Stability in the region.

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