Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan told visiting Belarus Defense Minister Leonid Semeonovich Maltsev yesterday that the Chinese armed forces are ready to enhance friendly, cooperative, multi-level ties with the Belarus army in various fields.  

Cao, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor, held talks with Maltsev Tuesday afternoon. He said China-Belarus relations have progressed well in recent years, adding that bilateral concrete cooperation in the fields of politics, economy, culture and technology has been expanded.

He expressed his hope that the two sides will make joint efforts to push forward China-Belarus long-term stable friendly cooperative relations up to a higher level.

Maltsev said the two countries' friendly cooperation on the basis of mutual trust and benefits has developed smoothly. Belarus is willing to work with China to deepen the relations between the two countries as well as the two armed forces.

Before the talks, Cao held a welcome ceremony for Maltsev's visit. Maltsev arrived in Beijing Tuesday morning for a four-day official goodwill visit as guest of Cao.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2005)