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IAF chief to undertake first-ever visit to China

Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal A Y Tipnis, will undertake an official visit to China next month to enhance defence ties between the two countries, official sources said in Beijing Friday.

The week-long visit beginning on May 20 will be the first-ever by the head of the Indian Air Force in 51 years of diplomatic relations between India and China, they said.

"The visit will also be yet another sign of normalcy in India-China defence exchanges," a source said adding this would be the first highest-level visit since military-to-military ties were normalised last year after the deep chill following the Pokhran tests.

The sources said frequent high-level exchange of visits would enhance mutual understanding and confidence between the armed forces of the two Asian giants.

The visit comes close on the heels of the military exercises code-named 'Operation Poorna Vijay' conducted in western Rajasthan and parts of Punjab in which the IAF was a major participant.

Tipnis is scheduled to have talks with his Chinese counterpart, commander of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force, General Liu Shunyao and call on senior officials of the PLA apart from visiting some military facilities of the PLAAF in south-west China.

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