Senior Chinese and Ethiopian military officials pledged Monday to establish closer relations between the two nation's armed forces.

The Chinese armed forces attache great importance to relations with the Ethiopian armed forces, said Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, while meeting with Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Ethiopia, Samora Yenus.

Chen hailed the long friendship between the two armed forces, saying the PLA hopes to work with the Ethiopian armed forces to further cement the traditional friendship and expand pragmatic cooperation.

Samora said the two countries are both dedicated to building sustainable and solid bilateral relations based on friendly cooperation.

Ethiopia is satisfied with the friendly cooperative relationship between the two armed forces, he added.

The Ethiopian armed forces hope to foster closer links with the PLA in the new century to benefit both armed forces, Samora said.