A senior Chinese military leader said in Beijing Tuesday that the Chinese armed forces will enhance multi-sector and multi-level cooperation with the Italian armed forces. 

Xu Caihou, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remark when he met with Sergio Biraghi, chief of the Naval Staff of Italy.

"China and Italy, including its two peoples, share long-term friendship and bilateral relations have developed soundly with the frequent exchange of visits since the two countries established diplomatic ties over 30 years ago," Xu said.

"The two countries share similar views on many major international issues and have cooperated in political, economic, cultural and military sectors," he said.

Biraghi, who arrived on Monday for a weeklong visit, said that Italian and Chinese armed forces share many similarities and the Italian armed forces is ready to enhance exchange and cooperation with the Chinese armed forces in all sectors.

During his stay in Beijing, Biraghi also met with Liang Guanglie, chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and PLA navy commander Zhang Dingfa.

(Xinhua News Agency April 6, 2005)