Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan on Thursday afternoon met with Nguyen Huy Hieu, Vietnamese deputy minister of Defense, both vowing to deepen ties between the two countries and the two armed forces.

Cao said the bilateral friendly relationship have kept moving forward with frequent high-level visits and dynamic exchanges in various levels and fields.

China is ready to make joint efforts with Vietnam in hope of safeguarding the overall interests of China-Vietnam relations from the strategic height, and strengthen bilateral cooperation and exchange, Cao said.

Hieu spoke highly of the relations between Vietnam and China, saying Vietnam would like to continue the friendly exchange with China, and deepen the cooperation on personnel training, frontier and coast defense and other fields.

Hieu was here to attend the second meeting of the China-Vietnam steering committee on cooperation held Wednesday at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

The China-Vietnam steering committee on cooperation convenes meetings annually in principle, and is held in turn in the two countries. The first meeting was held in November 2006 in Hanoi.
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(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2008)