Liang Guanglie, chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), met in Beijing Tuesday with a Croatian delegation led by Slavko Baric, deputy chief of General Staff of the Croatian Armed Forces.

Liang said the peoples of China and Croatia maintained friendly relations despite the distance between the two nations, and the two armed forces have enjoyed sound cooperation in recent years.

The Chinese army attaches great importance to the relationship with the Croatian army and is ready to promote the friendly cooperative ties between the two armies, Liang said.

Baric said relations between the two nations and the two armed forces have seen sound development since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

Croatia cherishes the friendship with China and hopes to further expand the scope of cooperation, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2004)