Shillong: A joint military exercise is being held by the contingents of Indian and China's People's Liberation Army at Umroi, Meghalaya as a part of 'hand-in-hand' bilateral exercise to strengthen defence ties between both the nations.
According to reports, a 139-member contingent of the Chinese army from the Tibet Military Command arrived here to take part in the eighth edition of the UN-mandated joint exercise.
On arrival at the Air Force Station, Borjhar, the Indian Army extended a warm and traditional welcome to the PLA contingent which was followed by an exchange of Pleasantries amongst soldiers of both nations. The opening ceremony included a speech by Major General Deepak Mehra, KC, VSM, General Officer Commanding Red Horns Division.
The focus on the initial four days of the exercise will be on Orientation to Training Area, Lectures on Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorism environment, taking part in improvised Explosive devices drills and various other practices.
The 14-day exercise is aimed at practising joint planning and the conduct of counter-terror operations in semi-urban terrain. The exercise is focused on training through various lectures and drills associated with counter-terrorist handling and firing with each other's weapons, special heliborne operations and case studies carried out in counter-terror environment.
The 7th round of their ‘Hand-in-Hand’ military drills took place in the Chinese city of Chengdu in 2018 as part of the focused efforts by the two militaries to improve ties after the standoff at Doklam.
Read: New leak reveals how China brutally runs Xinjiang camps
