BEIJING – Chinese delegation comprising border troops from the People’sLiberation Army (PLA) will head to India this year, Beijing has announcedamid a thaw following the tense military standoff at Doklam near the Sikkimboundary last year.

Bilateral defence exchanges were suspended after the 72-day standoff, whichsaw troops from both sides locked in an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation atDoklam or Donglang, an area claimed by Bhutan but under China’s control.

Both countries endorsed the need to resume military ties when PrimeMinister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping for an informal’summit at Wuhan in central China during April 28-29.

Following the summit, it was announced that “strategic guidance” would beissued to the two militaries to ensure peace and tranquillity on theborders.

Details of the PLA visit to India are currently being discussed, a Chinesedefence spokesperson said on Thursday.

“Currently, the two sides are in consultation with each other on theupcoming visit to India by the border defence delegation from the WesternTheatre Command of the PLA,” spokesperson Ren Guoqiang said.

“These border-related exchanges between the two sides at different levelswill help to strengthen the management and control of border areas. Theywill also help to build trust between the field troops of the two sides andtranslate the consensus reached by the two heads of state into realactions,” he said.

Ren added: “The two sides are also in contact with each other regardingother cooperation programs.

“Both China and India are big countries in Asia and we are also eachother’s important neighbours. The Chinese side attaches great importance tothe development of the military-to-military relationship with the Indianside.”

Elaborating on the consensus during the Wuhan summit, Ren said: “Under theguidance of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, weare willing to work with the Indian side to expand exchanges, strengthencooperation, built mutual trust, properly manage differences, andfacilitate the development of the military-to-military relationship in ahealthy and stable manner.”

This will enable the two countries to “jointly maintain peace andtranquillity in border areas and safeguard peace and stability in thisregion”, he added.