Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan met with Geoff Hoon, British Secretary of State for Defence, in Beijing on September 23.

Tang told Hoon that Sino-British ties were enjoying sound development and that the two countries share common interests and firm basis for cooperation without problems unsolved.

"To enhance the cooperative ties between China and Britain is in the essential interest of the two countries and the two peoples, beneficial to the world peace, stability and common prosperity,"

Tang said.

Sino-British military cooperation has experienced new progress, Tang said, referring to a joint naval rescue practice last June and a training program on peace-keeping in Mongolia attended by

Chinese and British participants last July.

Hoon agreed that the relations between the two countries and military forces were developing soundly.

The British especially welcome China's contribution to peace-keeping in the international arena, and hope to further enhance military cooperation between the two countries, Hoon said.

The two also discussed Taiwan issue, the arms sale embargo to China imposed by the European Union, human rights and Hong Kong.

Source: Xinhua