Visiting Chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army Liang Guanglie held talks in New Delhi Wednesday with Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the cooperation between the two armies.  

Liang said the cooperation between the armies of the two countries has been developed steadily, which has brought concrete interest to the two peoples. The relationship between the defense departments and armies of the two countries has kept a good momentum. The two sides should make this good relationship compatible to the cooperative partnership facing peace and prosperity between the two countries.

Mukerjee said Liang's visit is another important high-level contact between the two countries after the official visit of Premier Wen Jiabao in April.

He said that Liang's visit itself proves the closeness of bilateral relationship. The consensus concerning peace, stability and mutual prosperity is conducive to the further contacts of the two countries, and the friendly atmosphere built by the two sides is helpful to the solution of the border problems left by history.

Meanwhile, Liang also met with M. K. Narayanan, Indian national security advisor and Indian special representative on the China-Indian boundary issue.

Liang said the Chinese side is willing to solve the boundary question with India on the basis of equality and consultation with mutual understanding and concessions. The PLA is ready to build confidence measures with the Indian army at the military areas along the Lines of Actual Control, and continue keeping peace and tranquility along the border areas.

Narayanan, on the other hand, said he hoped that through Liang's visit, both armies could further play a positive role in keeping the tranquility and stability along the border areas, build mutual trust and promote the contact between the two armies to a new level.

Liang arrived here Monday to pay a six-day visit at the invitation of the Indian armed forces.

(Xinhua News Agency May 26, 2005)