Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan on Friday met with visiting Chief of Staff of the French Navy Oudot de Dainville in Beijing.

Cao said the all-round strategic partnership between China and France has kept growing and yielded rich fruits in recent years, noting that China appreciates France's adherence to one-China policy and is willing to join hands with France to continuously promote relations between the two countries and the two armed forces to new heights.

Cao, also vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission and State Councilor, said that China adheres to the peaceful development road and a defensive national defense policy. China does not intend to threaten any country, nor will it pose challenges to world and regional security.

Dainville voiced agreement with Cao's comment on bilateral relations and said that France is willing to push forward friendly cooperation and exchanges between the two armed forces and make new contributions to furthering ties between the two countries.

(Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2007)