China, Australia vow to strengthen military tie

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CANBERRA, October 17 (ChinaMil) -- Stuart Robert, assistant minister for defense of Australia, met with Zhao Keshi, member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and director of the General Logistics Department (GLD) of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), who is currently visiting Australia, on the afternoon of October 15, 2013.

Robert welcomed Zhao Keshi's visit to Australia on behalf of the Australian government and conveyed Australian Prime Minister Abbott's greetings.

Robert said that the new government of Australia will put the development of the China-Australia relationship high on the agenda of Australia's foreign relations. The relationship between the Chinese military and Australian military has developed rapidly in recent years. It is hoped that the two militaries will further expand the exchanges and cooperation.

Zhao Keshi said that leaders of the two countries reached a consensus in April of this year with regard to the construction of a strategic partner relationship based on mutual trust, mutual benefit and win-win principle, which points to an explicit direction for the development of the relationship between the two countries.

The relationship between the two militaries have progressed successfully in recent years, with more frequent high-level reciprocal visits held, mechanism for defense consultation formed, and professional exchanges gradually expanded.

China has consistently placed emphasis on the development of the relationship between the two militaries and is willing to make joint efforts with the Australian side to maintain the good momentum of developing exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries and to keep adding active factors to the development of the China-Australia relationship.

Zhao Keshi also made expositions on China's principle and position with regard to the Australia-U.S. alliance, the issue of the Diaoyu Islands and the issue of the South China Sea.

Zhao Keshi also met with Gen. Hurley, commander of the Australian Defense Force (ADF), and Dennis Richardson, secretary of the Australian Department of Defense, on the morning of October 16. Both sides candidly and deeply exchanged opinions on issues about the relationship between the two militaries as well as other international and regional issues of common concern.

It is learnt that Zhao Keshi arrived in Australia on October 13 at the invitation of the ADF for a 4-day-long visit.

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