Visit to help both sides learn from each other on VVIP security

A delegation of a Chinese group that takes care of the security of the top seven members of the nation’s leadership will visit New Delhi in November, as security ties between India and China begin to expand.

The delegation, led by Chen Yuantao, Deputy Director-General of the VIP security wing of the Public Security Ministry, will hold talks on November 23 and 24, an official source who did not wish to be named told The Hindu.

The wing is in charge of the security of seven members of the Standing Committee of the Politburo, headed by President Xi Jinping.

The delegation will hold talks with India’s elite Special Protection Group (SPG).

“Both sides are of the view that there could be much to learn from each other regarding VVIP security. This is an important exploratory visit,” the source said.

The Chinese team’s visit comes after Zhao Kezhi, Minister of Public Security, concluded a visit to India earlier this month.

“We have had top-level visits from the Chinese security establishment in the past, but during Mr. Zhao’s visit, there was greater intent to carry forward practical cooperation, especially with India’s police forces,” the source said.

Tackling cybercrime

The Indian side is especially keen on learning from Chinese experiences in tackling cybercrimes, as part of a broader security interaction with China.

Mr. Zhao’s visit is part of a string of follow-up visits after the Wuhan informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi in April.

Towards the end of November, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will be heading to China for Special Representative (SR) talks with State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. It is likely that the NSA’s visit will precede the G-20 summit in Argentina, where Mr. Modi and Mr. Xi are expected to meet again.

The two leaders last met in June on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Qingdao. The boundary question will be the focus of the talks during Mr. Doval’s visit.

At Wuhan — the symbol of the revival of China-India ties that had touched a new low last year during the Doklam standoff — Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale had announced that the two SRs, steering the boundary talks, would meet “in due course”.