India and China have firmed up a programme to exchange information and experiences about how the vast network and number of bureaucrats – nearly 5 crore – of the two countries function as both governments grapple with similar problems of huge populations and their wants.

V Narayanasamy, minister of state for personnel, public grievances and pension, had a series of meetings during his three-day China visit.

China has agreed to host Indian civil servants at the Chinese Academy of Personnel Sciences for training, while India will similarly choose an institution to host Chinese bureaucrats, Narayanasamy told Indian media.

The two countries will exchange wide ranging ideas on bureaucracy including social security for civil servants, training and performance assessment.

He said India has 1.2 crore civil servants at the central and state levels while China has 3.7 crore.