Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie (R) meets with former Defense Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Cho Sung-tae in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 5, 2009. (Xinhua/Zhang Duo)

　　

　　BEIJING, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie met here Thursday with former Defense Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Cho Sung-tae, pledging to strengthen mutual trust with the ROK in the area of security.

　　Cho, the ROK Defense Minister from 1999 to 2001, was visiting China to attend the seventh China-ROK security forum.

　　During the meeting, Liang praised the development of the bilateral relations. He said it was conducive to the regional peace, stability and development for the two countries to enhance mutual trust and friendly cooperation.

　　He said the forum had played a positive role in increasing mutual trust in the security area and hoped both sides would make joint efforts to run a better forum in the future.

　　Cho, who was also an initiator of the forum, said the ROK and China were friendly neighbors and shared many common interests. The forum had provided a good platform for the two sides to exchange views on regional security.

　　He said the ROK hoped to enhance cooperation with China in the security sector to promote regional peace and stability.