Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan met in Beijing Monday with visiting former Japanese director-general of Defense Agency Nukaga Fukushiro, vowing to strengthen bilateral defense cooperation.

 

"China has always kept an active attitude towards developing relations between the two defense departments," said Cao, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and State Councilor.

 

He said the Chinese side is ready to strengthen security dialogue and exchanges with Japan, in accordance with the consensus reached between the leaders of both countries, to enhance mutual trust and further promote bilateral defense cooperation.

 

Cao also briefed Nukaga on China's defense policy and position on the Taiwan issue, saying China's defense policy is defensive in nature.

 

Nukaga, member of the House of Representatives, said he believed the two countries should enhance dialogue and exchanges in defense and other fields, which will be conducive to a health development of bilateral relations.

 

He noted that the Japanese government has always supported the one-China policy.

 

Also on Monday, Nukaga met with Sheng Huaren, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, and Wang Jiarui, head of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, respectively.

 

Wang called on the parties of both countries to make joint efforts to inject new energy into the China-Japan relations.

 

Nukaga told Wang that the Japanese side will continue to make unremitting efforts for the healthy and steady development of Japan-China relations.

 

Nukaga is here as guest of China Institute for International Strategic Studies.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2007)