Liang Guanglie, chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), held talks in Beijing Tuesday with Pyar Jung Thapa, chief of Army Staff of Royal Nepalese Army.

Liang spoke highly of the bilateral ties between China and Nepal and their armies, saying that as intimate neighbors, the friendship between the two peoples dated back to a long time ago.

Relations between the two armed forces also witnessed continuous development as the bilateral ties advanced ahead, Liang said.

He thanked the Nepalese army for the help they rendered after some Chinese engineering staff came across with road accident in Nepal not long ago.

Thapa said Nepal cherished the long-lasting friendship between the two countries and their armed forces, hoping that high-level exchanges would further strengthen the friendship.

The Nepalese people thanked China for its support in time of need, and hoped to increase cooperation with China in the fight against terrorism and other fields, he said.

Thapa underscored Nepal's firm adherence to the one-China policy, and expressed Nepal's appreciation for China's opposition to hegemony, and its active efforts to combat terrorism and to maintain peace and prosperity in South Asia region.

(Xinhua News Agency June 16, 2004)