2010-06-17 11:11

TIRANA - Macedonian Defense Minister Zoran Konjanovski on Wednesday met with Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Konjanovski hailed the smooth development of military ties between the two countries in recent years, noting that exchanges and cooperation have been expanding in professional fields and personnel training.

Ma arrived in the Macedonian capital Skopje on Wednesday for a three-day visit.

Macedonian military leaders had visited China many times, Konjanovski said.

China's first high-ranking military delegation to visit Macedonia after the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties demonstrates the importance China attaches to the development of military relations between the two countries, Konjanovski said.

Regarding China as a good friend and good partner, Macedonia is ready to strengthen all-round pragmatic cooperation with China and further advance bilateral military ties, Konjanovski said.

Ma said China-Macedonia relations are developing smoothly, marked by steadily growing mutual political trust and ever closer coordination in international affairs.

China appreciates the Macedonian government's adherence to the one China policy and is ready to make further efforts to boost the pragmatic cooperation between the two armies on the basis of the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, Ma said.