A senior Chinese military leader said Thursday that the Chinese armed forces are ready to join hands with the Romanian army to promote the healthy, sustained stable development of bilateral military ties in the new century.  

Xu Caihou, vice chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission, told visiting Romanian Chief of Land Forces Sorin Ioan that Romania was one of the first countries in the world to recognize the People's Republic of China. It is Chinese people's old, good friend, he added.

The two countries have seen continuous growth of bilateral ties in recent years, Xu said, adding that the two countries' armed forces have had close contacts and cooperation.

"The Chinese armed forces value friendly cooperative ties with the Romanian army, and hold a positive attitude toward boosting Sino-Romanian traditional military friendly relations," he said.

Ioan said that it is a consensus reached by all social strata in Romania to develop multi-level friendly cooperative ties with China in various fields, including the military.

Ioan arrived in Beijing Wednesday morning for a seven-day official visit at the invitation of the Headquarters of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

(Xinhua News Agency May 13, 2005)