PLAAF commander meets with New Zealand counterpart

Ma Xiaotian, member of the Central Military Commission (CMC) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and commander of the Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLAAF), met with Air Vice Marshal Peter James Stockwell, chief of New Zealand Air Force, on the afternoon of May 27, 2013 in the Headquarters of the PLAAF.

Ma Xiaotian said that China-New Zealand relations has made great strides in recent years, as evidenced by frequent high-level contacts, constantly deepened political mutual trust, good communication and coordination on major international and regional issues, and constantly strengthened exchanges in such fields as science and technology, economy and trade, and culture.

Ma Xiaotian is satisfied with the development of military-to-military relations between the two countries in recent years witnessed by strategic dialogue mechanism established between the two militaries and the good development momentum of relations between the air forces of the two countries.

He hoped that the two sides would continue to expand the bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

Stockwell told his Chinese counterpart that the New Zealand side is willing to work together with the Chinese side to carry out exchanges and cooperation in various fields and jointly make contributions to maintaining regional peace and stability, and is also willing to constantly push forward the friendly cooperation between the two air forces.