Air force chiefs of S. Korea, China agree on closer cooperation

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Yonhap) -- Air force chiefs of South Korea and China agreed to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation during their talks in Beijing Thursday, according to officials of both sides.

South Korean Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Kye-hoon and his Chinese counterpart,
Xu Qiliang, also agreed to closely cooperate for the denuclearization of the
Korean Peninsula and stability in Northeast Asia, said the officials.
"The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is very critical to the stability
of Northeast Asia. China has played an important role in the cause and is
expected to make greater efforts in the future," Lee was quoted by the officials
as saying at the meeting.
In response, Xu promised to play a more active and constructive role in promoting
peace in Northeast Asia and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
The South Korean air force chief arrived in Beijing earlier Thursday.
During his five-day trip to China, Lee will also attend the "Air Force Peace and
Development Forum," where he will promote South Korea's indigenous T-50 and KT-1
trainer planes, according to his aides.
Following the forum, where he will also meet with his counterparts from Japan,
Chile, Turkey and Spain, Lee will visit a Chinese air base in Shandong on Monday,
they said.
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