Senior Chinese and Italian military officials said in a meeting in Beijing Wednesday that they hoped for closer military cooperation.

China and Italy had seen frequent exchanges of high-level visits, said Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie in a meeting with visiting Italian Chief of Defense Staff Vincenzo Camporini.

Liang said the two countries had maintained close coordination in major international issues and conducted fruitful cooperation in the economic, trade, culture, technology and tourism sectors.

Military ties between the two countries had been promoted as pragmatic cooperation had proceeded smoothly, said Liang.

China attached great importance to military relations with Italy, Liang said.

He hoped the two sides could expand cooperation to contribute to the sustainable development of friendly cooperation between the two armed forces.

Camporini said Italy-China relations had developed vigorously in recent years along with sound military cooperation.

He said Italy appreciated the contribution of the Chinese armed forces in dealing with international affairs, and he hoped the two sides could boost their military cooperation.

Later Wednesday, Chen Bingde, Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China, also held talks with Camporini.

Chen said the two nations' armed forces have maintained sound cooperation in personnel training and military education.

He also said China always adopts an open attitude to bilateral military cooperation.

Camporini said Italy attaches great importance to relations with China.

He also said the Italian armed forces hope to work with the Chinese armed forces to expand cooperation into new areas.