Fu Quanyou, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, held talks in Beijing Thursday with Trevor Thomas, commander of the Antigua and Barbuda defense force, and his party.
Fu, also member of the Central Military Commission, said it has been the first high-level visit to China from the military of Antigua and Barbuda since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1983, which demonstrates that the friendly relations between
the two armed forces have entered a new stage.
He said that China is satisfied with the smooth development of bilateral cooperation in every field and it is ready to further such relationship.
Fu expressed gratitude for the adherence of the "one China" principle by the government of Antigua and Barbuda.
Thomas described the visit as historic, saying that he hoped to further relations between China and Antigua and Barbuda and their armed forces.
Antigua and Barbuda has adhered to the "one China" principle since it forged diplomatic ties with China in 1983, and will continue its adherence, he stressed.
(Xinhua News Agency June 21, 2002)
