File photo of Defence Minister A K Antony. PHOTO: AFP
AK Antony will meet his Chinese counterpart General Chang Wanquan during the three-day visit, with talks to include peace on their shared border as well as regional security issues, the defence ministry said.
"Both ministers are expected to discuss a number of issues, including those related to maintainance of peace and tranquillity on the border... and matters relating to regional and global security," India's ministry said in a statement.
The visit coincides with a five-day trip by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to China, his first foreign visit since his May election.
Antony's trip is the first by an Indian defence minister since 2006 and comes after a spat between the two nuclear-armed neighbours in May over troop movements in a disputed Himalayan border region.
Delhi alleged Chinese troops intruded nearly 20 kilometres into Indian-claimed territory, triggering a three-week standoff that was resolved after talks between local military leaders, and a withdrawal of troops from both sides.
The Line of Actual Control has never been formally demarcated, although the sides have signed accords to maintain peace in the region that was the site of a brief Indo-Chinese war in 1962.
Antony was also likely to hold negotiations on a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement, a new mechanism suggested by China last year for improving border security, an official said.
His delegation, due to arrive in Beijing on Thursday evening, includes the defence secretary and top military commanders.
The trip comes after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang pledged to build trust with India, declaring that ties between the Asian giants were key to world peace, during a visit to New Delhi in May.
Li made India the first destination on his first foreign visit, since China's leadership change in March, which he said showed the importance that Beijing attached to ties with Delhi.
Last month, India's National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon held negotiations on the boundary issue with his counterparts in Beijing.
COMMENTS (29)
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The extreme level of jealousy shown by Indian defence minister... Why Indian defence minister didn't schedule his visit to China before or after Nawaz Sharif's visit and why on the same time when Nawaz Sharif is on 5-day official China's visit?????
@Polpot: Pakistan will extend Kargil Technology to China. With the kind of result Pakistan got in Kargil and the 'MEDAL OF BRAVERY' that Kargil's chief architect Mr. Musharaff is getting from his own countrymen in the Supreme Court of Pakistan - 'High Treason'... What do you think Chinese will do with this 'Technology'? (Unless they want to face universal shame!)
Or who will receive Indian defense minister? But whatever, PTV will report a successful visit of PM anyway.. Or may be they have already recorded the new bulletin.
Who received Indian defense minister at the airport?
@Jayesh: "How can your country are going to support china in case of war?" +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Pakistan will extend Kargil Technology to China.
@Rashid: "Nawaz Sharif can assure the Chinese leadership of total military assistance," ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Nawaz should offer Pakistans Military talent to China on loan , eg Musharraf and Kayani.
@Polpot: I take every thing back after reading your reply to Mav. :-)
@Rashid: Your statement looks very funny.Your country even could not stand against daily drones.How can your country are going to support china in case of war?
@Rashid: Chinese are practical people and they know that India is a better market that Pakistan ever be.Modern nations look at business first and then ideologies.
Nawaz Sharif can assure the Chinese leadership of total military assistance, if China is attacked by US, India, Japan, or Israel. In return China should help us with plenty of money. .
Its a good sign for indo-china relation but bad for Pakistan so they can attack Hongkong like world trade.
Indian delegation must express India's concerns about the continuing supply of military equipment by China to Pak and they must make it clear that this will affect trade b/w the two countries.
China is playing with both of us, plain and simple. They are helping the Pakistanis to restrain India's true potential to rise and counter them and our politicians are too busy their chilli chicken to offend them. On a lighter note, a good relationship between China and India is a good thing but we need to be fully prepared to save arunachal Pradesh. Let their minister visit us and our also goes there to check the temperature there.lol. cheerio.
Anticipating the statement " three-week standoff that was resolved after talks between local military leaders" it could be author's lack of knowledge or inti-indian policy.
I believe the issue have been resolved through nation's top level leaders not by local military leaders.
lets understand it once for all. All Chinese acts are designed to serve their own interests only. Can Pakistani friends commenting here enlighten me as to how much loan/aid/grant has Beijing given to Islamabad. After all their friendship is " higher than Karakorram and deeper than Gwadar":)
@Rashid: The Indian defense minister visit will certainly undermine the nawaz visit to china, as china now realizes that, being good with India is better than being bad with pakistan.
@khan: My girlfriend is Chinese :P how could you say that :D
@Maverick: "Grow up." +++++++++++++++++ And Sir u learn to recognise tongue in cheek when u see it.
Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai
Now chinese will ignore Nawaz shariff and concentarte on Anthony.Anyways they know paksiatni minsters come to China to ask something or the other so wats the point in concentrating them !!
@Alter Ego: sure..the bag carrier is commanding much more powerful force than nawaz.
we love pathans
@khan: who like muslims?????
Sonia Gandhi's bag carrier offers his services to Nawaz
@Polpot:
Grow up.
Pakistan foreign ministry should summon the Chinese ambassador and tell him in no uncertain terms, that we don't like this growing bonhomie between India and China. First the Chinese prime minister honours India with his first foreign visit after taking over, followed immediately by Indian foreign minister's visit to China and now the Indian defence minister will visit China with his team while the Pak PM is still in China.
china does not like muslims soon pak realise it better for it
"The visit coincides with a five-day trip by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to China" ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I denounce this Indian attempt to steal Nawaz's thunder .......!