Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie Wednesday expressed gratitude for Japan's aid to China for rescue and relief efforts in quake-hit Sichuan Province.

Liang expressed the Chinese side's gratitude in a meeting with Ishikawa Toru, former chairman of the Joint Staff Council of Japan, who headed a delegation of retired Japanese generals to visit China.

Liang, who is also a state councilor, said the Japanese government had quickly provided cash and material aid to China and sent a rescue team to join in the relief work in the quake-hit areas, and it had also provided medical equipment that were urgently needed, which China greatly appreciated.

He briefed the Japanese guests on relief work in the quake area, saying the disaster had caused severe casualties and the entire Chinese people, including the armed forces, had been engaged in relief efforts.

Ishikawa expressed condolences over the dead in the quake disaster on behalf of his delegation, which was sent by the Forum on China's Politics and Economy of Japan, adding he believed the Chinese government and people would surely overcome the disaster and rebuild the towns in the quake-hit area.

He also delivered donations from the members of the Forum and the delegation for China's quake-hit area to the Chinese Defense Ministry.

The two sides also exchanged views on developing defense cooperation between China and Japan.

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2008)