China, Belarus to promote comprehensive military co-op

Guo Boxiong (R), vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, shakes hands with Belarussian minister of defense Leonid Maltsev in Beijing, capital of China, April 3, 2009.
Guo Boxiong (R), vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of China, meets with Belarussian Minister of Defense Leonid Maltsev in Beijing, capital of China, April 3, 2009.

China and Belarus agreed Friday to work together to advance bilateral military friendship of cooperation. "China will work with Belarus to promote multi-level and multi-field military cooperation," said Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie when holding talks with his Byelorussian counterpart Leonid Maltsev. China attached great importance to developing the state-to-state and military relations with Belarus on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, said Liang, who is also a state counselor. The two sides enjoyed sound relationship, frequent high-level exchanges, and increasing pragmatic cooperation in all fields, he added.

China and Belarus forged diplomatic ties in 1992. A total of 12cooperative documents were signed between Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Byelorussian counterpart in 2005. 　　Seeing long-term stability, mutual trust and mutual support in the bilateral relations, China will work with Belarus to implement the consensus reached by the two state leaders, and to promote the comprehensive friendship of cooperation to a higher level, Liang said. Maltsev, on his China official goodwill visit from Wednesday, agreed to make efforts to enhance the bilateral military cooperation in all fields. He hailed China as Belarus's good and trusted friend in the meeting with China's vice chairman of the Central Military Commission Guo Boxiong on Friday.

Belarus attached great importance to the development of the bilateral relationship, said Maltsev. He appreciated China's firm support for Belarus's internal and foreign policy on safeguarding its national sovereignty and independence as well as improving living standards, while the China side Friday also expressed appreciation of Belarus's support on the Taiwan and Tibet-related issues. Guo said that given the complex, volatile international environment, it was in both countries' fundamental interests and conducive to regional and world peace and stability to maintain the bilateral relations. Guo stressed that in spite of the changeable international situation, China would continue to follow the path of peaceful development and enhance cooperation with the international community, so as to jointly cope with various challenges and promote world peace and prosperity.

Posted in: China