Senior military officials of China and Papua New Guinea pledged Friday to further expand military exchanges and cooperation.

Great progress had been made in bilateral ties since the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1976, featuring increasing high-level visits and expanding cooperation in the areas of economics and trade, agriculture,health and education, said Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie in a meeting with visiting Papua New Guinea Chief of Defense Force Peter Ilau.

Liang said China paid great attention to ties with Papua New Guinea and was willing to promote friendly cooperation based on equality and mutual benefit.

China also attached great importance to bilateral military cooperation and was ready to take substantial measures to advance military ties to a new level, Liang added.

The two armed forces had conducted productive training cooperation and realized frequent senior-level visits in the past 10 years, Liang noted.

Liang also briefed Ilau on China's position on the Taiwan issue and expressed appreciation for Papua New Guinea's adherence to the one-China policy.

Ilau reassured China by saying the Papua New Guinea government and armed forces would continue to uphold the one-China policy.

The development of bilateral military ties had achieved remarkable progress since the two armed forces started exchanges in 1999, said Ilau, adding that Papua New Guinea was ready to work with China to push forward the development of military ties in a sound, stable and sustained way.

Before the meeting with Liang, Ilau had in-depth talks with Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Ilau arrived in Shanghai Tuesday for a week-long official goodwill visit to China as Chen's guest.

(Xinhua News Agency June 27, 2009)