China is willing to work with Thailand to strengthen substantive cooperation in all fields and promote bilateral friendship between the two nations and militaries, according to Defense Minister Liang Guanglie on Saturday.

He made the remarks when meeting with visiting Permanent Secretary of the Thai Ministry of Defense Winai Phattiyakul, a guest of China's State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense.

Liang spoke highly of the Sino-Thai relations, saying the two countries have maintained close coordination in regional and international affairs and achieved fruitful results from the substantial cooperation between the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the Thai armed forces.

"We would like to keep intense contact and cooperation with the Thai side so as to bring up friendly ties between the two countries and militaries to a new height."

Winai added the Thai and Chinese armed forces have cooperated smoothly in various fields in the past.

"Thailand values the friendly relations with China and hopes to push forward the relations together."

In July, special forces from the two countries held a joint anti-terrorism training exercise in northern Thailand's Chiang Mai Province, aiming to cement cooperation in non-traditional security areas and safeguard regional peace and stability.

In July 2007, the two countries held their first joint training in south China's Guangdong Province. It was the first such training China had held with another country.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2008)