29 Jun 2009

PNG and China promise to extend military ties

3:16 pm on 29 June 2009

Papua New Guinea has pledged to strengthen and expand its military ties with China.

PNG's Defence Force Commander Peter Ilau is in China for a week long visit for meetings with counterparts about the two countries' military exchange cooperation program.

Xinhua, China's government news agency, reported successful talks on Friday between Ilau and China's Defence Minister Liang Guanglie and Chen Bingde, chief of staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Mr Ilau says PNG is ready to work with China to push forward the development of military ties in a sound, stable and sustained way.

Liang says China paid great attention to ties with PNG and is willing to promote friendly cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit.

He also says that China attached great importance to bilateral military cooperation and is ready to take substantial measures to advance military ties to a new level.