Jo Myong-rok, first vice chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea, met visiting Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan in Pyongyang on Wednesday.

 

Jo said the North Korea-China traditional friendship had a strong groundwork and the bilateral relationship between the two countries was developing in an all-round way.

 

It is North Korea's unwavering resolve to make continued efforts to consolidate and strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries and their military forces, Jo said.

 

Cao, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of China and a state councilor, said that military ties were important components of overall bilateral relations. The Chinese armed forces are ready to further enhance exchanges with the North Korean armed forces in order to contribute to safeguarding their respective national security and regional peace.

 

On Tuesday, Cao met with Kim Il-chol, Minister of People's Armed Forces of North Korea.

 

Cao arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday for a three-day official goodwill visit to North Korea.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2006)