Liang Guanglie, member of the Central Military Commission and chief of general staff of the PLA, met the visiting German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung and his party in Beijing yesterday.

　　Liang Guanglie began by extending welcome to Jung and his party. Then he noted that ever since China and Germany established diplomatic relations, the relations between the two countries have kept an excellent momentum of development. Riding on the increasingly deepened relations between the two countries, the relations between the Chinese and German armed forces have also witnessed satisfactory development, with uninterrupted high-level reciprocal visits between the two militaries and profound development of exchanges and cooperation in various professional sectors recorded. The Chinese side is willing to further increase exchanges with the German side so as to hoist the friendly cooperative relations to a new height.

　　In turn, Jung expressed his gratefulness for the Chinese side's hospitable reception. He stated that Germany and China have maintained close cooperation on major international and regional issues in recent years, and made enduring efforts to safeguard world peace, stability and development. Germany values highly the development of friendly relations with China, and is ready to further enhance exchanges and dialogues between the ministries of national defense of the two countries and expand pragmatic cooperation between the two militaries. He also renewed that Germany has all along adhered to the one-China policy.

　　Zhang Li, deputy chief of general staff of the PLA, was present at the meeting.

　　By Luo Zheng

　　(Apr 19, PLA Daily)