Zhang Qinsheng, deputy chief of general staff of the PLA, met with the visiting American and European scholars delegation yesterday morning in Beijing, during which the two sides had frank and in-depth exchange of views on the issues of common concern such as the international and regional situations, the Sino-U.S. and Sino-European relations as well as the army building, etc.

　　Zhang briefed his guests on China's national defense policy and the PLA's modernization drive. He noted that China pursues a national defense policy that is purely defensive in nature. China's national defense provides an important guarantee for maintaining the security and unity of the country and for realizing the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way. In the new period of the new century, the Chinese armed forces will effectively carry out its historical mission, speed up the revolution in military affairs with Chinese features, and enhance in an all-round way its capabilities of defensive operations under conditions of informationization. The Chinese armed forces also attaches importance to exchanges and cooperation with other armed forces in the world, and it has made, and will continue to make, its due contributions to maintaining world peace.

　　Zhang also briefed his guests on China's fundamental stand on the DPRK nuclear issue, the Taiwan issue and the U.S. military presence in Asia upon request.

　　By Zhang Tiannan

　　(Feb 9, PLA Daily)