BEIJING – China’s defense minister Chang Wanquan and Bolivia’s Reymi Ferreira held a meeting in Beijing where both sides discussed the increase in bilateral cooperation in military areas, according to Xinhua news agency.

At the meeting, the Chinese minister stressed that his country “is willing to take military relations with Bolivia to a new level,” according to the state media.

For his part, Ferreira thanked the support and assistance that China has recently provided to the Bolivian Armed Forces, and also proposed to strengthen military cooperation.

In July 2016, China donated 31 armored vehicles, valued at almost $8 million, to the Bolivian Armed Forces as part of a military cooperation program, which the Bolivian Government considers the most important.

The program has also included training courses for Bolivian military personnel.