Fu Quanyou, chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, met here Monday with AY Tipnis, chief of the Air Staff of the Indian Air Force, and his party.
Fu, also a member of the Central Military Commission, said that China and India have shared common interests in international and regional affairs, and the two sides have more similarities than differences.
He added that Sino-Indian good-neighborly relations conform to the fundamental interests of the two countries, and benefit regional and world peace and stability.
Fu expressed gratitude for the support of the Indian government towards China on the issues of human rights and Taiwan.
On Sino-Indian military relations, Fu said that the contacts between the two armed forces promote mutual understanding and trust, and the Chinese People's Liberation Army is ready to work with its Indian counterpart to develop friendly relations.
Tipnis said that it is important for both India and China to strengthen contact, adding that India is willing to further its cooperation with China on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence.
(People's Daily 05/21/2001)