Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie on Thursday pledged to boost military ties with Vietnam when meeting his Vietnamese counterpart Phung Quang Thanh.

Liang said bilateral military cooperation was a major component of China-Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

He called on the two sides to promote sustained, healthy and stable development of bilateral military ties in line with the spirit of enhancing communication, mutual trust and cooperation, which was in the interests of the two peoples and the China-Vietnam friendship.

Thanh said the Vietnam-China relationship was the most important bilateral relationship for Vietnam.

Vietnam attached great importance to friendly cooperation with the Chinese armed forces, and was ready to make joint efforts with China to further promote the military ties, he said.

Thanh, on behalf of the Vietnamese government, sent Liang a letter of condolence and 30,000 U.S. dollars in a cash donation for areas affected by the 7.1-magnitude earthquake in northwest China's Qinghai Province.