Minister of National Defense Cao Gangchuan met with Mr. Sumpun Boonyanun, undersecretary of Thai Ministry of Defense yesterday in Beijing.

　　Cao, who is also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and state councilor, said that China and Thailand were close neighbors, and the two countries had trusted each other and treated each other with all sincerity. The two countries have conducted fruitful cooperation in many fields, such as politics, economy, culture, and science and technology. A healthy, stable and all-directional good-neighborly relations of cooperation have been established between China and Thailand.

　　Cao expressed his satisfaction over the development of the ties between the two armed forces. He said that the friendly ties and ever-increasing exchanges between the armed forces had added new content and vitality to the relations of the two countries.

　　Mr. Sumpun said that China was Thailand's friendly neighbor. The Thai armed forces attache great importance to the exchange and consultation with the Chinese military and hope to further the friendship already existed between the two sides.

　　Mr. Sumpun and his delegation arrived in China on September 15 upon the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense to attend the second security consultation meeting between the two ministries.

　　By Liu Huadi

　　(September 19, PLA Daily)