Beijing seeks to strengthen military ties with Damascus: Chinese officer

Senior Chinese military officer Guan Youfei met Syrian Defense Minister Fahad Jassim al-Freij as well as a number of senior Russian officers in Damascus, China's Xinhua news agency said Tuesday. Guan, director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China's Central Military Commission, was quoted as saying "China and Syria's militaries have a traditionally friendly relationship, and China's military is willing to keep strengthening exchanges and cooperation with Syria's military." According to the report, Guan said China has no interest in intervening in the Syrian conflict but is interested in helping the country's military by providing training and humanitarian aid.