Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and his Burundian
counterpart Germain Niyoyankana held talks in Beijing on Thursday
afternoon, vowing to enhance bilateral military exchanges.
Cao voiced his appreciation of Burundian for its adherence to
the one-China policy and support of China's reunification cause and
other issues such as human rights.
China and Burundi have developed friendly relations and conduct
cooperation in various fields since they forged diplomatic ties,
and the two countries support each other in international issues,
he said.
Cao noted that the Chinese armed forces attach great importance
to the relations with the Burundian armed forces and are ready to
further promote exchanges and cooperation between the two armed
forces.
Niyoyankana said Burundi and China have supported each other and
safeguard interests of each other in the international community
although there is a long distance between the two countries.
He expressed his thanks to the Chinese government for the aid
and help to Burundi's national construction in various aspects,
such as infrastructure, medical care and personnel training.
Niyoyankana said the Burundi government supports the one-China
policy and holds that Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese
territories.
He said he hoped to strengthen military exchanges and
cooperation with China in many fields, such as exchanges between
the military academies of the two countries.
Xu Qiliang, deputy chief of General Staff of the People's
Liberation Army, and Burundian Ambassador to China Alfred
Nkurunziza were present at the talks.
(Xinhua News Agency May 19, 2006)
