On May 23, Kim Jang Soo, defense minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK), met in Soul with Liang Guanglie, member of the Central Military Commission and chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, who was on an official friendly visit to the Republic of Korea.

　　Liang Guanglie conveyed cordial greeting and best wishes of Cao Gangchuan, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, state councilor and minister of national defense of the People's Republic of China, to Kim Jang Soo. Kim Jang Soo expressed his thanks and requested Liang Guanglie to convey his sincere regards to Cao Gangchuan.

　　Liang Guanglie said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the ROK, the relationship between the two countries has been characterized by frequent mutual visits and meetings between the leaders of the two countries, steady increase of political mutual trust, sustained expanding of exchanges and cooperation in the economic and trade fields, and more and more close coordination and cooperation in the international and regional affairs. In the meantime, the relations between the two militaries have also witnessed further development. The China-ROK military relations are an important part of the relations between the two countries, thus to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries is not only conducive to pushing for their respective army building, but also beneficial to all-round and sound development of the relations between the two countries, to maintaining regional peace and stability and to promoting common prosperity and development.

　　Kim Jang Soo said the ROK government and the armed forces attach great importance to developing friendly relations with China and its armed forces, and he expressed the hope that the two sides should continue to work together to promote the friendly exchanges and cooperation in the military field between the two countries and make positive contributions to maintaining regional peace and stability. Kim Jang Soo also reiterated that the ROK would continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

　　In the afternoon, Liang Guanglie held talks with General Kim Kwan-Jin, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff of the Armed Forces of the ROK, and the two sides exchanged views on international and regional security situations, the relations between the two countries and the two militaries as well as the other issues of common concern.

　　Liang said that the relations between China and the ROK have witnessed swift development in the new historical period, which has brought tangible benefits to the peoples of the two countries. Along with comprehensive and in-depth development of the relations between the two countries, the friendly contacts and exchanges between the two militaries have increased steadily. China attaches importance to developing friendly relations with the armed forces of the ROK and is willing to make concerted efforts with its ROK counterpart to increase exchanges, enhance mutual trust, develop friendships and promote cooperation.

　　General Kim Kwan-Jin said that the ROK and China are friendly neighbors, and to develop the bilateral relations between the ROK and China is in conformity with the interests of the peoples of the two countries as well as that of the Northeast Asia. To strengthen exchanges with the Chinese armed forces constitutes an important content of the foreign military relations of the ROK armed forces. He expressed his belief that the ROK-China military relations would be constantly deepened and developed in the days to come.

　　Gao Shouwei, deputy commander of the Guangzhou Military Area Command (MAC) and commander of the air force of the Guangzhou MAC, Su Shiliang, deputy commander of the Jinan MAC and commander of the North China Sea Fleet, and Ning Fukui, Chinese ambassador to the ROK, attended abovementioned activities.

　　(May 24, PLA Daily)