Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Cao Gangchuan met in Beijing Monday with Commander-in-Chief of the National Defense Forces of Finland Jouni Kaskeala and his party.  

Cao, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the bilateral relations between China and Finland have developed smoothly since the two countries established diplomatic ties.

In recent years, the bilateral relations entered a stage of all-round and rapid development, he said.

"There are no major conflicts between our two peoples but extensive common interests," he said, adding "to develop the friendly cooperative relations is in the fundamental interest of our two peoples."

The military-to-military relations between the two sides, as an important part of bilateral relations, has also developed smoothly in recent years with an increasing number of friendly exchanges between the two defense ministries and armed forces as well as expanded areas of exchanges, he said.

Jouni Kaskeala expressed his hope that with the rapid development of economic cooperation between Finland and China, the two sides will further promote friendly and cooperative relations between the two armed forces and work together to safeguard world peace.

(Xinhua News Agency April 20, 2004)