South Korea and China on Wednesday hold first defense strategic dialogue in Seoul, reaching consensus on further strengthening defense cooperation and working together to maintain peace and stability in the region.

The dialogue, bringing together visiting deputy Chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army of China Ma Xiaotian and South Korea's Vice Defense Minister Lee Yong Gul, touched upon a range of security issues, including defense strategic dialogue mechanism, the regional security situation, two nations' military exchanges with other countries and defense cooperation between the two sides.

Ma said China and South Korea are close neighbours. Promoting friendship and cooperation accords with the core interests of both nations and will benefit regional peace, stability and prosperity.

With continuous development of bilateral ties, exchanges and cooperation in the defense area between the two nations also developed ahead step by step and reliably, Ma added.

China hoped that the military construction can be strengthened and common development can be achieved via enhanced defense exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, Ma said, noting that it will also contribute to sound development of the bilateral ties and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee said South Korea's government and military attach great importance to the development of friendship with China. South Korean military is willing to make continuous efforts to strengthen exchanges with China at all levels, so as to deepen the two militaries' ties and make its due contribution to peace and stability on the peninsula and in the whole region.

Lee also reiterated his country's stance to stick to one-China policy.

The meeting came after the defense ministers of the two countries agreed earlier this month in Beijing to open the annual strategic dialogue to enhance their defense ties.

The Chinese military officials arrived in Seoul earlier in the day, after a trip to Tokyo, Japan.

(Xinhua News Agency July 27, 2011)