Beijing, Dec 12: China has said its decision to invite the head of the Indian Army’s Northern Command was part of a consensus between the two countries to enhance military ties to maintain peace on the border pending a final settlement of the boundary dispute.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said both sides will aim to improve ties during Lt Gen D S Hooda’s visit.
Gen Hooda would be the first northern area commander to visit to China since Beijing denied a regular visa to his predecessor Lt Gen B S Jaswal in 2010 on the grounds that his command area included the “disputed” Jammu and Kashmir.
Asked at a media briefing here what prompted the change in China’s stand, Hua said “Our position is consistent and subjected to no change. But our consensus is there,” she said.
Hooda’s visit is scheduled from December 14–19 during which he will visit various military and civil establishments in China, including the PLA Headquarters at Beijing and the Lanzhou military region and exchange views on measures to further peace and tranquillity along the LAC.
In 2010, China had also resorted to issuing “stapled visas” to residents of Jammu and Kashmir on the same grounds of it being “disputed” which drew strong protests from India.
In retaliation, New Delhi also cancelled all military-to- military exchanges.
After hectic diplomatic parlays, China subsequently rolled back its decision to issue paper visas to J&K residents.
