Military cooperation discussed

Visiting Gen. Chen Bingde, chief of the general staff of the Chinese military, discussed advancing military cooperation with Russia, state media said. Chen held discussions with Russian Defense Minister Anatoli Serdyukov in Moscow, China's official Xinhua news agency reported. Chen said military relations between the two countries were in good shape and there has been dramatic progress in recent years, the report said. He was quoted as saying his country was ready to work with Russia to advance their military ties further, which would help promote the China-Russia strategic cooperative partnership. Such efforts would be conducive to peace and stability in the region and the world, Chen said. Serdyukov lauded the relationship between the two countries and their militaries. Chen will also visit Ukraine and Israel, the report said.