BEIJING - CHINESE state media says the army chiefs of staff from China and Russia hailed closer ties in their first-ever discussion on a newly installed hot line.

China's People's Liberation Army chief Chen Bingde called the hot line a sign of pragmatic cooperation and growing political trust, the Xinhua News Agency said in its report on the Monday conversation.

Chen's Russian counterpart, Nikolay Makarov, said the link would promote regular communication on military matters.

The link officiallly opened March 14 and it wasn't clear why it had not been inaugurated before. Russia-China military links have in recent years incorporated joint anti-terrorism drills and border protection exercises. -- AP