Beijing: Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday said he hoped to have a "very useful" meeting with the Chinese leadership to further consolidate India's strategic relationship with the Communist giant.
"I am expecting a very useful meeting with the leadership of China in the context of our growing relations and strategic partnership for peace and stability," he told PTI on arrival here from Japan on the second leg of his three-nation tour.
"I do hope that this visit will also help to achieve that objective," Mukherjee, who was warmly welcomed at the Beijing International Airport by the Indian Ambassador to China, Nalin Surie and senior officials from the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), said.
Mukherjee's visit is a major highlight of the joint activities undertaken by the Indian and Chinese governments to mark 2006 as the 'Year of India-China Friendship'.
The Defence Minister, who is here on a six-day visit as a guest of his Chinese counterpart, General Cao Gangchuan, will he will hold official-level talks tomorrow.
Besides holding official talks with Cao, he would also meet with the Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Gen. Guo Boxiong and Chinese Foreign Minister, Li Zhaoxing.
During the visit, the two sides are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on exchanges and cooperation in the field of defence, which will be a key confidence building measure to ensure continued peace and tranquillity along the disputed Sino-Indian border.
The MoU is also expected to serve as an instrument for a regular and sustained dialogue on defence and national issues between the two countries, official sources said.
Mukherjee will also call on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday at the Zhongnan Hai leadership compound and discuss Indo-China bilateral ties and other issues of common interest.
In a major confidence-building measure, the PLA has invited the Defence Minister to visit the ultra sensitive Beijing Aero Space Command and Control Centre. He will also visit the headquarters of Lanzhou Military Region in Lanzhou city in Gansu Province and tour the Shanghai Naval Base in the country's economic hub in east China.
The minister is also scheduled to inaugurate a photo-exhibition titled "Path of Compassion" and visit of the famous Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang.
During talks, Mukherjee may seek China's support for the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal which has to be approved by the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), sources said.
China, a member of the 44-nation NSG had critically questioned US efforts to push through the Indo-US civilian nuclear accord at the last meeting of the NSG in Vienna.
The vexed India-China boundary issue may also figure during the talks. The Special Representatives of India and China on the border issue have met seven times and positive progress has been made, sources said.
The discussions with the Chinese side - both political and military leaders- are expected to cover India's desire to broaden and deepen defence and military exchanges with China to enhance mutual trust and understanding between the two armed forces and to maintain peace and tranquillity in the region and the world at large.
Mukherjee will leave for Singapore on June 2 to continue his three-nation official visit.
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