Chinese Defense Minister Meets Chilean Air Force Commander

Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian met with Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Air Force Patricio Rios here Friday.

Chi, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor, welcomed Rios saying that a logistics delegation from the Chilean armed forces visited China earlier this week, and Chilean President Ricardo Lagos Escobar is to pay a state visit to China on October 22-24, a sign of the smooth development of the ties between the two countries and two armed forces.

In recent years, senior officials from China and Chile have increased the number of exchanges of visits, and communication and cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields have also expanded, Chi said.

Chi noted that China and Chile have maintained good cooperation in international affairs, and the Chinese government thanked the Chilean government for its support on issues concerning human rights and Taiwan.

The military exchanges between the two countries are frequent in recent years and the Sino-Chilean military relations have developed smoothly, Chi said. The commanders of the Chilean army, navy and air force have all visited China, and both parties have exchanged military officers as a learning experience. The increased exchanges have deepened mutual understanding and promoted the development of bilateral military relations.

Rios said that his visit to China was a success, and he was deeply impressed by China's great achievements resulting from its opening up and reform drives.

He added that Chile also intends to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese government and the armed forces, especially the air force.

Commander of the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Liu Shunyao held talks with Rios and his delegation this morning before Chi met with them.

(Xinhua News Agency 12/10/2001)