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Chinese Defense Minister Meets Venezuelan Guests
Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian said Wednesday that China is willing to continue to work with Venezuela to promote the exchange and cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries.
Chi, who is also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a State councilor, made the remark in a meeting with Arturo Jose Garcia, general commander of the Venezuelan air force and his party.
Chi said that the relations between the two countries have progressed well since the establishment of diplomatic ties 27 years ago.
He said that exchanges of high-level visits between the two countries have been on the increase and the areas for exchange and cooperation have continued to expand.
Venezuelan President Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias is expected to visit China soon, Chi said, adding that the visit, which follows Chavez's previous China trip in 1999 and Chinese President Jiang Zemin's visit to Venezuela in April this year, will surely push forward the two countries' strategic partnership for common development in the new century.
China and Venezuela have supported and closely cooperated with each other on major international issues, Chi said.
He thanked the Venezuelan government for its support to China on the Taiwan and human rights issues.
Chi said that the relations between the two countries' armed forces, on the basis of state-to-state relations, have also developed rapidly. China is ready to further promote relations between the two countries' armed forces, Chi said.
Chi briefed the guests on China's defense policy and the domestic situation.
Garcia said that his country attaches great importance to developing friendly cooperation with China. He said that he believes his current visit will further the exchange and cooperation between the armed forces, especially the air forces, of the two countries.
Garcia and his party arrived in Beijing on Monday at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Liu Shunyao.
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