Norway hopes to strengthen military exchanges and cooperation with China, Norwegian Defense Minister Anne-Grete Strom-Erichsen said in Oslo on Tuesday.

Strom-Erichsen made the remarks when meeting with Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China.

Norway highly values its relations with China, she said, noting that both countries are keen to make joint efforts to strengthen the exchanges and cooperation, she said.

Strom-Erichsen also spoke highly of the economic development in China, which has been playing an increasingly important role in the world.

Chen conveyed to Strom-Erichsen greetings and good wishes from Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie, saying that mutual trust between the two sides has been forged steadily in recent years.

China keeps a positive attitude to strengthen the relationship between the two armies, Chen said. He hoped the two armies would continue to strengthen their exchanges and cooperation in professional fields.

China and Norway have carried out good exchanges and cooperation in the fields such as economic and trade, environment protection, energy and climate change, he said.

Meanwhile, China appreciates the Norwegian government's adherence to the one-China policy and highly values its efforts to develop bilateral relations with China, he said.

Earlier Tuesday, Chen, also a member of the Central Military Commission, held talks with Norwegian Chief of Defense Sverre Diesen on the relations between the two armies.

Chen arrived in Oslo on Monday from Serbia for an official visit to Norway.

(Xinhua News Agency September 17, 2008)