Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Liang Guanglie met with Bulgarian Defense Minister Nikolai Mladenov in Sofia on Wednesday. Both sides hope to further enhance military cooperation between the two countries.

General Liang arrived Tuesday for a four-day official visit to Bulgaria on the invitation of Mladenov. This is his first trip to Bulgaria and the last leg of his three-nation tour in Europe.

During the meeting, Liang thanked Mladenov for his invitation and warm and friendly reception. He said that China and Bulgaria have traditional good relations. Although the international situation has undergone great changes, and two countries' domestic situation has undergone profound changes, but China and Bulgaria have always maintained friendly cooperation.

Liang said that China is willing to take the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relationships as an opportunity to continue pushing for deeper pragmatic cooperation in various fields with Bulgaria.

Liang expressed his satisfaction with bilateral military relations. He said he hoped the two armed forces would continue high-level visits, enhance exchanges in professional fields, strengthen cooperation in personnel training, learn from each other and grow together with joint efforts, so as to bring the military exchange and cooperation to a new level.

Mladenov noted Liang's visit is the first by a foreign Defense Minister since he became the Balkan country's Defense Minister, to which Bulgaria attaches great importance.

Mladenov reminded that Bulgaria is the second country in the world to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. Bulgaria is proud of the achievement of China, and pleased with the traditional friendly relations between the two countries.

Mladenov underlined that military ties are an important part of bilateral relations. Bulgaria is willing to work with its Chinese counterparts, make joint efforts to promote friendly cooperative relations between the two armed forces to a new level.

Chinese ambassador to Bulgaria Zhang Wanxue, and Liang's major entourage took part in the meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency September 10, 2009)