China, Japan agree to work for closer defense cooperation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-03-20 21:36

BEIJING - Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and his Japanese counterpart Yasukazu Hamada agreed Friday to enhance trust and cooperation between the two military defense departments.

In official talks here, Liang said cementing trust would create an important foundation for building China-Japan strategic relations.

Hailing the progress of defense exchanges over the years, Liang said the two armies had conducted frequent exchanges at various levels. He called for joint efforts to facilitate contacts.

Hamada told Liang that Japan attached importance to exchanges with China in the areas of defense and security, which would benefit both countries and promote Asia-Pacific and world peace.

He said he believed the two Asian powers had great potential for regional security cooperation, adding that Japan was ready to deepen understanding with China for closer defense ties.

Chinese Navy ships are expected to visit Japan in 2009, according to a press communique between the defense departments of China and Japan released on Friday.

China and Japan were expected to hold defense and security consultations in Tokyo within the year, said the communique.

The two ministers agreed to exchange views on international peacekeeping operations, coping with natural disasters and cracking down on pirates, particularly with regard to information exchanges on operations in the Gulf of Aden off the Somali coast.

The communique was released after talks between the Chinese and Japanese defense ministers.

Before the talks, Liang held a welcome ceremony for his counterpart.

The two countries have conducted defense exchanges following former Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan's historic visit to Japan in August 2007.

Besides visits of high-ranking officers, there have also been exchanges among young officers and visits of naval ships.