Foreign and Military Affairs

Chinese defense minister meets Philippine counterpart

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-23 15:14

MANILA - Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Liang Guanglie in Manila on Monday, and both sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.

Gazmin said since the Philippines and China forged diplomatic ties in 1975, the bilateral and military ties are experiencing dynamic development at all levels and in all fields.

Gazmin reiterated that the Philippines sticks to the one-China policy and is willing to make concerted efforts with China in furthering security cooperation to promote all-round development of the two countries.

Liang said in reply that China and the Philippines have a long history of friendship. In recent years, the relations between the two countries and two armies have been developing steadily, with substantial fruitful cooperation in various fields.

China is willing to cooperate with the Philippine side in exchange of visits, personnel training and military aid to push forward bilateral strategic cooperation, Liang said.

Liang arrived in the Philippines on Saturday for an official goodwill visit at the invitation of Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin. This was the last leg of Liang's three-nation visit, which has taken him to Singapore and Indonesia.