China is ready to make joint efforts with Germany to promote military cooperation between the two sides, said a senior Chinese army officer in Beijing Monday.

"China holds a positive approach towards the military relations", said Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of the general staff of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA), on the occasion of the second round of strategic consultations between Chinese and German armies.

The initial round of strategic consultations was held in May 2002 in Germany.

During the consultation, the two sides exchanged views on international and regional issues of common interest and reached extensive consensus. Xiong also introduced China's recent achievements in its national defense and army modernization.

Hans-Heinrich Dieter, deputy inspector general of the German Armed Forces, said that Germany has been emphasizing the relations between the two countries and their armies. The two nations have seen successful cooperation in many fields and are expecting to promote such cooperation through in-depth discussions, Dieter said, adding that the two sides have witnessed frequent high-level exchanges.

(Xinhua News Agency, July 26, 2004)