India, China to hold joint air exercises

NEW DELHI, March 24 (UPI) -- India and China are planning to hold joint air exercises in India this year, a senior Chinese Embassy official said.

He said the move was aimed at extending defense cooperation between the two countries, which conducted their first joint military exercises in Kunming, China, last December.

Li Chao, a senior diplomat at the Chinese Embassy, told the semiofficial Press Trust of India: "We favor scaling up the military-to-military ties with India and as part of the efforts, the two countries are holding talks for joint exercise between the Air Forces."

He said the armies of the two countries will participate in the second joint exercises on Indian soil this year.

"Talks are going on and I think we will see a joint exercise between Air Forces of the two countries this year itself," Chao said.

According to the diplomat, military ties were moving forward, adding this was a good way to improve stability and security in the region.

Chao said relations between the two countries improved over the last three years.

"The joint military exercises would help the armed forces of the two countries to understand each other," he said.