Foreign and Military Affairs

Military chiefs of SCO nations vow closer co-op

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-24 22:26

BEIJING - The military chiefs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have pledged to improve bilateral military relations and cooperation on SCO defence and security.

Chen Bingde, chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, met here Sunday with his counterparts from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbek's deputy defence minister.

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In his meeting with Saken Zhasuzakov, first deputy defence minister and chief of the staff of Kazakhstan's Armed Forces, Chen said the relations between the two armed forces are enjoying sound developments with frequent high-level exchanges and great achievements in exchange visits, professional exchanges and personal training.

As a friendly neighboring country and strategic partner of Kazakhstan, China attaches great importance to developing military relations and is devoted to enhancing bilateral military friendly cooperation.

For his part, Zhasuzakov said Kazakhstan is willing to conduct pragmatic cooperation with China to advance relations between the two countries and the two military forces.

When meeting with Taalaibek Omuraliev, first deputy defence minister and chief of the general staff of the Kyrgyz Armed Forces, Chen said China is willing to continue to conduct high-level exchanges on the basis of mutual respect, while further strengthening the cooperation with Kyrgyz armed forces in education and training.

Kyrgyzstan, Omuraliev said, is willing to make joint efforts with China to push forward the friendly cooperation between the two armies to a new level and safeguard regional peace and stability.

In his meeting with Nikolai Makarov, first deputy defence minister and chief of the general staff of the Russian Armed Forces, Chen said in recent years the two armies have made joint efforts to develop bilateral relations at multiple levels and in a wide range of areas, enriching the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination.

Together with Russia, China is willing to move forward the relations between the two armed forces, Chen said.

For his part, Makarov said the communication and cooperation between the two armies have rich content and broad prospects.

Further, Russia is willing to make joint efforts with China to make contributions to developing the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination, Makarov said.

In his meeting with Ramil Khalilovich Nadirov, first deputy defense minister and chief of the staff of Tajikistan's Armed Forces, Chen said China and Tajikistan remain good neighbors and good partners.

"It is conducive to bilateral friendly relations and maintaining regional peace and stability for the two armed forces to strengthen pragmatic cooperation," Chen said.

Nadirov said his country regards China as a reliable friend and attaches importance to bilateral military relations.

In his meeting with Uzbek Deputy Defense Minister Rustam Niyazov, Chen hailed the fruitful cooperation between China and Uzbekistan since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 19 years ago.

Acknowledging that China attaches great importance to the China-Uzbekistan military relations, Chen said both sides should work together to lift their partnership to a higher level.

Niyazov said the relationship between the two armed forces is an important part of bilateral ties, adding that the two militaries should expand cooperation in scope and depth.

Also, the military chiefs will attend a meeting Monday in Shanghai to review SCO cooperation in the defence and security sectors.

The meeting, the first of its kind since the SCO was founded 10 years ago, is an important event for SCO defence and security cooperation this year, China's Ministry of National Defence said.

Founded in 2001, the SCO consists of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.