By Yin Hang, Shao Longfei
BEIJING, Oct. 26 (ChinaMil) -- General Wei Fenghe, Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister, met with defense ministers attending the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on Thursday. These include Leandro Bacale, Minister for National Defense in Equatorial Guinea, Atanasio M'tumuke, National Defense Minister of Mozambique, Aleksandar Vulin, National Defense Minister of Serbia, Vladimir Padrino, National Defense Minister of Venezuela and Oswaldo Jarrin, Minister of National Defense of Ecuador.
The defense ministers of various countries expressed their congratulations on the successful convening of the 8th Beijing Xiangshan Forum and said that the forum is an important platform for multilateral security dialogue and will play an active role in enhancing mutual trust and strengthening cooperation.
During his meeting with Leandro Bacale, Minister for National Defense in Equatorial Guinea, General Wei Fenghe said that the friendship between the two peoples has a long history, and that the friendly cooperation between the two countries and the two militaries is exemplary. Under the leadership and promotion of President Xi Jinping and President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, the two sides have established a comprehensive cooperative partnership of equality, mutual trust, cooperation and mutual benefit. China attaches great importance to the development of cooperative relations with the Equatorial Guinea military in various fields. Wei hopes that the two sides can work together to continuously improve the relationship between the two militaries.
Bacale said that Equatorial Guinea deeply agrees with a series of ideas proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping such as the community of shared future for mankind. Equatorial Guinea and China have many common interests and broad prospects for cooperation. Bacale hopes that the cooperation between the two militaries in various fields will continue to move forward and never stagnate, so that both sides can jointly safeguard regional peace and stability.
During his meeting with Atanasio M'tumuke, National Defense Minister of Mozambique, General Wei Fenghe said that China and Mozambique are good friends, good partners and good brothers. In 2016, President Xi Jinping and President Filipe Nyusi upgraded the China-Mozambique relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The two heads of state met again during the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and reached a new important consensus not long ago.
The Chinese side appreciates and thanks Mozambique for its adherence to the one-China Policy and its unwavering support for China’s core interests and major concerns. China will continue to adhere to the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith, adopt the right approach to justice and interests, and earnestly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state. China will continue to deepen mutual trust, exchanges and pragmatic cooperation with Mozambique’s armed forces, and promote continuous and in-depth development of the relations between the two militaries, said General Wei.
M’tumuke said that Mozambique thanks the Chinese side for its assistance to Mozambique’s economy and national defense construction over the years. M’tumuke hopes that the two sides will further strengthen cooperation in maritime safety and personnel training, jointly promote the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and promote the development of relations between the two countries and the two militaries.
During his meeting with Aleksandar Vulin, National Defense Minister of Serbia, General Wei Fenghe said that President Xi Jinping met with President Aleksandar Vucic in the middle of last month, and conducted in-depth exchanges on deepening cooperation in various fields between the two sides. The meeting pointed out the direction for the development of China-Serbia comprehensive strategic partnership in the future.
The relations between the two armed forces have maintained a good momentum of development. The high-level exchanges between the two sides are close, and the cooperation in military medical service and other fields are very fruitful. The Chinese side has a positive attitude toward deepening cooperation between the two militaries. China is willing to work with the Serbian side to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state and continuously deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries, said Wei.
Vulin said that he is honored to deliver a speech at the Xiangshan Forum. China upholds the principle of equal treatment of all countries and is a staunch force in maintaining the international order. The leaders of the two countries are highly consistent in terms of concepts such as peace and development. The Serbian side looks forward to working with China to promote the in-depth development of exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries in medical service and international peacekeeping, and jointly safeguard regional and world peace and stability, said Vulin.
During his meeting with Vladimir Padrino, National Defense Minister of Venezuela, General Wei Fenghe said that the two leaders of China and Venezuela have met many times in recent years. The political mutual trust between the two sides has continuously deepened, the pragmatic cooperation in various fields has yielded fruitful results and the two sides have maintained good communication and coordination in international and regional affairs.
The Chinese military is willing to work with Venezuela to conscientiously implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen mutual visits between the defense departments and military leaders, deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and strive to build a bilateral relationship that is compatible with the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, said Wei.
Padrino said that Venezuela attaches great importance to the development of the relationship between the two countries and is grateful for China’s long-term and valuable support. Venezuela is willing to work with China to strengthen cooperation between the two militaries in the field of delegation exchanges and personnel training, and promote the continuous development of bilateral military relations.
During his meeting with Oswaldo Jarrin, Minister of National Defense of Ecuador, General Wei Fenghe said that the bilateral relations between China and Ecuador have made great progress and maintained a good momentum of development in recent years. The two heads of state jointly upgraded bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016.
In the spirit of equality and mutual benefit, China is willing to broaden the channels for pragmatic cooperation between the two armed forces, further strengthen high-level military exchanges, deepen exchanges in professional fields, expand personnel training and cooperation, and make positive contributions to the development of comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, said Wei.
Jarrin said that the cooperation between the two militaries has developed smoothly in recent years. The Ecuadorian armed forces thank China for its help and support over the years. Ecuador is willing to work with China to continuously deepen cooperation between the two militaries at all levels in various fields and promote the continuous development of relations between the two countries and the two militaries.