Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian said Monday that the Chinese side takes positive attitude toward expanding relations between the Chinese and Belarus armies, and is ready to maintain friendly cooperation with the Belarus armies in all fields.
Chi, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor, made the remarks when he met visiting Belarus Defense Minister Leonid Semionovich Maltsev.
While recalling his visit to Belarus in 1997, Chi said that China and Belarus have enjoyed traditional friendship, although the two countries are far apart, and Sino-Belarus relations have developed smoothly since diplomatic ties were forged in 1992.
China and Belarus have maintained frequent high-level contacts, and their cooperation in the economic, trade, scientific and technological fields have expanded, he added.
Maltsev said that Belarus regards highly China's efforts to safeguard world peace and stability. In dealing with international affairs, China and Belarus advocate cooperation based on equality and mutual-benefit and oppose hegemonism and autocracy in any form.
He invited Chi to visit Belarus at a convenient time, and Chi accepted the invitation.
(People's Daily 04/23/2001)
