DUSHANBE, April 25, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- On Sunday April 24, Ramil Nadyrov, First Deputy Minister of Defense of Tajikistan also Chief of the General Staff of Tajikistan’s Armed Forces, met in Beijing with Chen Bingde, Chief of People''s Liberation Army General Staff Department, China.

Chinese media outlets report Nadyrov is currently in Beijing to attend a meeting of chiefs of general staffs of armed forces of member nations of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Tajik and Chinese chiefs of general staff reportedly exchanged views on state and prospects of further expansion of bilateral cooperation between the defense ministries of the two countries.

Chen, in particular, noted that China and Tajikistan were good neighbors, friends and partners.  According to him, expansion of inter-army practical cooperation promotes further expansion of interstate relations between the two countries and strengthening of regional security and stability.

Nadyrov, for his part, noted that Tajikistan considered China as its reliable and good partner.  “Tajikistan attaches significance to expansion of inter-army relations with China and will take efforts for expansion of bilateral friendly cooperation,” Tajik deputy defense minister said. 

Chen Bingde is a general in the People''s Liberation Army. He was the Director-General of the General Armaments Department until September 2007. In this position he acted as the head of the space program of China. Currently he is the commanding general of People''s Liberation Army General Staff Department in Beijing.

The People''s Liberation Army General Staff Department is the command organ and the headquarters for the Chinese People''s Liberation Army (PLA). It is under the absolute leadership of the Central Military Commission.  Its duties include - PLA operations command, recruitments, mobilizations, formation, trainings and administration.