The fourth round of meetings between the headquarters of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and the Russian armed forces was held in Beijing Monday.

Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of general staff of the PLA, and Valeri Manilov, first deputy chief of general staff of the Russian armed forces, co-chaired the meeting.

The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the international and regional security situation, the defense policies and military building of the two countries, and other issues of common concern. The meeting was held in a friendly atmosphere and the two sides reached broad consensus.

They agreed that the system of meetings between the two military departments has been running well.

The two sides acknowledged that the system has played a positive role in strengthening the mutual exchange, understanding and support between them, in consolidating the friendly cooperation between the two militaries, and in enhancing the strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides decided that the next round of meetings will be held in Russia in 2001.

(Xinhua 11/13/2000)