Defense minister's India visit expected to build trust

State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe's visit to India signals a recovery in military-to-military relations and will strengthen mutual trust and communication, promote military cooperation and facilitate regional peace and security along the two countries' shared border, experts said.

Wei arrived in India on Tuesday on a four-day goodwill visit, during which the two sides will exchange opinions on issues of common concern, the Ministry of National Defense said in an online statement on Monday night. These issues include resolving border tensions and enhancing trust and communication.

Wei is the first Chinese defense minister to visit India in six years. It is also the highest-level visit by a Chinese military official since the border standoff between the two militaries in China's Donglang area, in the Tibet autonomous region, last year.