China's Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan met in Beijing Wednesday with Zbigniew Brzezinski, who served as assistant to the then US President Jimmy Carter for national security affairs in the 1970s. 

Cao, also a vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor, said that, as an important part of Sino-US relations, the promotion of Sino-US military relations is in the interests of two sides, and conducive to world peace and stability.

We are glad to see that the development of bilateral military relations has become the consensus of leaders of the two countries, he said.

He expressed his hope that the bilateral military relations will enjoy steady development against the backdrop of the sound development of Sino-US relations.

On the Taiwan issue, Cao said the Chinese government and people will not give up their efforts for peace, while opposing any attempt to separate Taiwan from China.

Brzezinski said that Sino-US relations are of strategic importance, and crucial to global peace and stability.   

(Xinhua News Agency January 7, 2004)