Chinese military hopeful Modi-Xi meet can stabilise military ties

Both the Indian and Chinese media are speculating and raising hopes of positive outcome of the talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Wuhan Summit which begins on Friday. And it is likely that their meeting could stabilise ties between the two militaries, help maintain peace at the borders and settle differences, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said on Thursday.

"It is the common expectation of both peoples to stabilise relations between the Chinese and Indian armed forces and maintain peace and tranquillity at the border areas," military spokesman, Col. Wu Qian, told the media in Beijing.

Modi on Thursday left for China to hold talks with Xi at a two-day informal summit in Wuhan starting Friday. The Wuhan Summit is being held to improve ties between the countries. The border issue and the Doklam standoff of 2017 are expected to figure in their talks. Post-Dokalam standoff, the relations between the two militaries were picking up. 

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"Although the relations between the two militaries still face some difficulties and obstacles, we are willing to use the important consensus of the leaders of the two countries as guidance to deepen our understanding, enhance mutual trust, properly settle differences, and continue to accumulate the positive energy of the healthy and stable development of the relations between the two armed forces," Col Wu said.

Col Wu was replying to a question about the expectations from the Modi-Xi summit and as well as the outcome of the meeting between Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Chinese counterpart General Wei Feng this week.

Col Wu's comments were significant as President Xi is also the head of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) and the military. Regarded as the most powerful Chinese leader in recent times, Xi is the Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) which is the overall high command of the Chinese armed forces.  
                
Ahead of Modi's visit to China for the Wuhan Sunmmit, Sitharaman was in Beijing to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Defence Ministers' meeting. She held talks with her Chinese counterpart Wei and discussed steps to improve military ties.