Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), met with Juha Rannikko,the visiting Finnish chief of defense staff, and his party on the afternoon of May 6, 2013 in Beijing.
Xu Qiliang noted that Finland is one of the first Western countries to have established diplomatic relations with China. China attaches great importance to China-Finland relations, and is willing to continue to make joint efforts with the Finnish side to promote the bilateral friendly and mutually beneficial cooperative relations to a new high.
Xu Qiliang pointed out that the relations between the Chinese and Finnish militaries are an important component of the relations between the two countries. The high-level contacts between the two militaries have laid a good foundation for the two militaries to expand cooperation fields and uplift the level of exchanges. The Chinese side adopts apositive attitude towards developing friendly and cooperative relations between the two militaries, and is convinced that the relations between the two militaries are bound to constantly make new progress with the efforts of both sides.
Rannikko said that the Finnish government and people hope to constantly consolidate the traditional Finland-China friendship. In recent years, the two militaries havemaintained close contacts and cooperation, which is conductive not only to the building of their own militaries but also to the world peace and stability.
Qi Jianguo, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army(PLA), and others were present at the meeting.
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