The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) attaches great importance to developing friendly cooperative relations with the Italian armed forces, said a senior Chinese military officer in Beijing Tuesday.

Liang Guanglie, chief of the general staff of the PLA, made the remark in a meeting with visiting Italian Air Force's Chief of Staff Leonardo Tricarico.

Liang, also a member of the Central Military Commission, said the friendship between the Chinese and Italian peoples has a long history although the two countries are far from each other. Since China and Italy established diplomatic relations over 30 years ago, bilateral relations have been developing smoothly and the two countries have kept constant contacts.

The two sides share identical or similar views on major international issues and have conducted cooperation in wide-ranging areas such as politics, economy, culture and military affairs, said Liang. He said he hoped the friendly relations between the two armed forces could develop in more fields and at different levels.

Liang also briefed the Italian guests on China's domestic construction and armed forces building.

Tricarico said he is willing to make his own efforts to push forward the cooperation between the two countries and the two armed forces. He said he believed this visit will further promote the development of bilateral relations.

Tricarico started an official good-will visit to China on Monday, as guest of Commander of the Chinese PLA Air Force Qiao Qingchen.

(Xinhua News Agency October 20, 2004)