China, Britain hold strategic security consultations ( 2003-10-21 01:24) (Xinhua)
Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo met here Monday with William
Geoffery Eheman, director general of the British Foreign and Commonwealth
Office.
Dai said relations between China and Britain had developed smoothly in recent
years, and the establishment of a consultation mechanism on strategic security
between the two nations was conducive to exchanges and cooperation in security
and arms control and would promote bilateral relations.
China's EU (European Union) Policy Paper earlier this month had shown China's
willingness to strengthen all-round cooperation with the EU, he said, hoping
Britain would continue to contribute to the development of relations between
China and the EU.
Eheman, here to attend the first round of Sino-British consultations on
strategic security, said Britain attached importance to relations with China and
hoped to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China in international
affairs through the consultation mechanism.
Eheman and Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Zhang Yesui held strategic security
consultations on Monday. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the
situation in Iraq, the nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of
Korea, the nuclear issue of Iran, non-proliferation and defense against
missiles.
They agreed the consultations were fruitful and deepened mutual understanding
on a series of major issues concerning international security.
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