The army-to-army cooperation between China and Russia is not targeted at any third party, said Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan in Beijing Monday. Rather, he said, it serves the interest of regional and world peace.

Saying the cooperation will help the two armies to learn from each other, Cao said in talks with visiting Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov that frequent exchange of visits between Chinese and Russian military leaders is of great significance in deepening the strategic partnership of coordination and beefing up bilateral military ties, according to Foreign Ministry sources.

China is ready to join hands with Russia to push forward bilateral military ties, said Cao, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and state councilor.

The Russian-Chinese collaboration in military affairs is "mature and fruitful," Ivanov said, pledging further efforts for the army-to-army ties.

As for the first-ever China-Russia joint military exercise next year, both men agreed that it will be "an important event," the significance and impact of which will be "far-reaching."

Prior to the talks, Ivanov also met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Guo Boxiong. Hu is also chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China.

Ivanov, who arrived Sunday night as Cao's guest, will leave Beijing Tuesday for Sanya, a seaside resort in south China's island province of Hainan.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2004)