China on Monday said defence minister A.K. Antony’s visit here has given both countries an opportunity to enhance their “strategic cooperative partnership” and jointly maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas through increased military-to-military coordination.
China paid “high attention” to Mr Antony’s visit as he held talks with Premier Li Keqiang, defence minister Gen. Cheng Wanquang and state councillor and special representative on India-China border talks, Yang Jiechi, Chinese foreign ministry said here on Monday.
Mr Antony, who is the first Indian defence minister to visit China in seven years, concluded his four-day visit on Sunday.
“The two sides exchanged views on defence issues and reiterated that they will enhance defence exchanges with the purpose of maintaining peace and tranquillity of the border areas and create durable conditions for the China and India strategic cooperative partnership,” foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chuying told a media briefing.