Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie met in Beijing on Monday with Chief of Staff of the Comoros armed forces Salimou Mohamed Amiri, pledging to expand cooperation between the two armed forces.

Liang, also a state councilor, said that the Chinese and Comoros armed forces have maintained good cooperation, and the Chinese side is ready to make joint efforts with the Comoros side to further strengthen exchanges and expand cooperation between the two armed forces, to raise the level of military-to-military ties.

Noting that China is among the countries to admit the independence of Comoros first and the first to establish diplomatic ties with Comoros, Liang said the relations between China and Comoros have become a model of equality, unity and cooperation between a big country and a small one.

Salimou, chief of staff of the National Development Army, said the armed forces of Comoros and China share very deep friendship, and the Comoros side hopes to develop cooperation with China in broader areas.

He thanked China for providing Comoros with support and assistance and said that Comoros will continue to adhere to the one-China policy.

Before meeting Liang, Salimou also held talks with his Chinese counterpart Chen Bingde, which lasted nearly two hours. The two agreed to deepen the cooperation between the two armed forces in various fields.

Salimou and his delegation arrived in Beijing on Sunday for an official good-will visit to China.

(Xinhua News Agency October 21, 2008)