BEIJING, Oct. 16 -- Vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission Fan Changlong met with visiting French Army Chief of Staff Pierre De Villiers in Beijing on Thursday, pledging to enhance military ties.

Fan said President Xi Jinping and his French counterpart Francois Hollande have decided to foster a close and lasting comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in March.

"This is another milestone in the development of bilateral ties in the past five decades," Fan said.

"We are willing to work with France to advance our bilateral ties and military-to-military relationship."

De Villiers hoped both could deepen military relationships and increase exchanges and cooperation in training and anti-terrorism.

Earlier in the day, Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army Fang Fenghui held talks with De Villiers.