REPORT FROM CHINA : CHANGING INDIA-CHINA RELATIONS?
The Embassy of China, New Delhi, recently organised a visit of an Indian media delegation to China for interactions at Beijing with the 4th Army Aviation Regiment, China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), All-China Journalists Association (ACJA),
97 per cent of India’s trade is by sea and hence the safety of SLOCS is as important to India as China. India is aware of Chinese submarine activity in Indian Ocean region and India believes that India Ocean belongs to all.
The Embassy of China, New Delhi, recently organised visit of an Indian Press Delegation to China for interactions at Beijing with the 4th Army Aviation Regiment, China Institute of International Studies (CIIS), All-China Journalists Association (ACJA), Tencent (qq.com), Ministry of National Defense (MND), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), China Daily, and Shanghai Naval Garrison.
The familiarisation visit gave an overview of what is happening in China. The stops included the 4th Army Aviation Regiment. The delegation was met and briefed by Senior Colonel Zhang Jillin, Commander of the Regiment. Their equipment includes attack helicopters, medium lift helicopters (Mi-17 equivalent) and fixed wing aircraft (C-130 equivalent). The tasks include attack, air support and tasks like rescue missions and locating space capsules returning to earth. Tasks are all land based, as naval aviation units cover operations at sea. The regiment is maintained at high state of readiness. Pilots undergo a four year course from basic level to combat level.
China Institute of Strategic Studies (CIIS)
CIIS is the primary think tank of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and it also trains Chinese diplomats. The briefing was done by Jia Xiudong, Senior Research Fellow, mainly hinging on the overwhelming desire for peace by China, maintaining friendly relations with all neighbours and bright prospects of India-China relations. Lan Jianxue, Associate Research Fellow who has visited India many times spoke at length about India-China relations, highlighting Prime Minister Modi’s achievements. The discussions centred around: China’s concern about the situation in Iraq-Syria and about possible fallout in Af-Pak region. China wants peace in Afghanistan and looks to Afghanistan’s economic upliftment In its relationship with India, Panchsheel is being forged as the mainstay.