China’s new defense attaché Rear Admiral Yu Jian thanked the Indian Army for rescuing 12 Chinese crew members last year. He said that China-India relations are improving and there is a need to increase cooperation between the two armies.
Chinese defense attaché thanked the Indian Army
New Delhi [भारत] July 22 (ANI): China’s newly appointed Defense Attache to India Rear Admiral Yu Jian thanked the Indian Army on Tuesday. Last year, the Indian Army rescued 12 Chinese crew members after a cargo ship caught fire and exploded off the coast of Kerala. Jianye also called for better communication and cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries as relations between the two countries show progress.
He made this comment at a ceremony organized to mark the 99th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Rear Admiral Yu Jian, Defense Attache to India, said, “China and India are important neighbors and both are at an important stage of development and rejuvenation. We are glad to see that under the strategic guidance of our leaders, China-India relations have returned to the right track of reform and development.”
“We will not forget that in June last year, the Indian Army rescued 12 Chinese crew members from a cargo ship that caught fire and exploded off the coast of Kerala,” he said.
Contribution of both countries in UN peace missions
The Chinese Defense Attaché also highlighted the role played by the armed forces of both countries in UN peacekeeping operations. Yu said, “We need to remember that both the Chinese and Indian armed forces have made outstanding contributions and great sacrifices to UN peacekeeping operations. We have always believed that the common interests between our two countries far outweigh our differences.”
Emphasis on increasing military engagement
Expressing Beijing’s desire to deepen military engagement with India, he said, “We are willing to maintain communication with the Indian side through diplomatic and military channels, enhance mutual trust and cooperation through dialogue, and contribute to the well-being of the peoples of China and India.”
Concluding his remarks, the Chinese Defense Attache said, “I wish for the continuous improvement of China-India relations.”
Continuous improvement in India-China relations
His comments come at a time when India-China relations have witnessed sustained momentum following the meetings between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping and subsequent meetings between key officials of the two sides. New Delhi and Beijing are engaged in constructive and forward-looking discussions towards gradual normalization of relations. (ANI)
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