China and Germany launched an eight-day seminar for senior military officers on security policies in Beijing Saturday.

The seminar, the second of its kind, is sponsored by China's Ministry of Defence. Altogether 15 senior military officers from China and Germany will discuss Chinese foreign and defense policies, military modernization, the Taiwan issue and other topics of common concern. 

Chief of General Staff of China's People's Liberation Army, Liang Guanglie and Inspector General of Germany's Federal Defence Forces, Wolfgang Schneiderhan attended the opening of the seminar.

Liang said in his speech that military relations between the two countries had made some remarkable achievements in recent years. The first seminar, held in Berlin last year, have exerted positive effects on deepening cooperation and boosting understanding between the two armed forces.

"We hope officers attending the second seminar can fully exchange their views and bring forward suggestions for the future development of bilateral cooperation," said Liang, who is also member of China's Central Military Commission.

Schneiderhan said the seminar was a "very good" method of exchange between German and Chinese military officers. It was beneficial for the two armed forces to expand consensus, coordinate stances and develop friendship. He expressed his hope that the two sides would continue to hold such seminars in the future.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the senior officers will also visit Shanghai, China's economic hub in the east.

(Xinhua News Agency October 8, 2006)