Liang Guanglie, chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Friday hailed bilateral military exchanges and cooperation in a talk with visiting Australian Chief Commander of the Defence Forces Peter Cosgrove.

Liang, also member of the CPC Central Military Commission, said the Chinese and Australian armed forces maintain frequent high-level visits and contacts over the past few years, with seven defense and strategic consultations held and active exchanges carried out in such fields as warship visits, training, logistics, and college education.

China attaches great importance to friendly cooperation with Australia and is willing to make efforts to promote relations between the two countries and the two armies, Liang said.

Cosgrove said the relationship between the Australian armed forces and the Chinese PLA has developed well in recent years, expressing his hope for furthering exchanges and cooperation with China, which he called beneficial to both sides.?

Cosgrove and his delegation arrived in Beijing Friday morning on an official goodwill visit to China at the invitation of Liang.?

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2004)