Senior Chinese and US military officials held their fifth round of
consultations on defense at the vice-defense ministerial level on
Monday and Tuesday and agreed to maintain contacts and
consultations on friendly bilateral military exchanges in the
coming years.
During their meetings, the two sides exchanged views on the
regional and international security situation, state-to-state
relations and bilateral military ties, as well as other issues of
common concern.
General Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of the General Staff of the
People's Liberation Army of China, and Douglas Feith, US
undersecretary of defense for policy, attended the meetings. The
fourth round of consultations was held in December 2000.
During his talks with Feith, Xiong said Sino-US relations
encountered some troubles and setbacks in the first half of last
year. However, thanks to the joint efforts of both sides and the
three meetings between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US
President George W. Bush, bilateral ties have witnessed great
improvement and development.
The continued improvement of bilateral ties has created a favorable
atmosphere for the resumption and improvement of relations between
the two armies, the Chinese general said.
During Jiang's visit to the United States in October, China and the
United States agreed to resume bilateral military exchanges, hold
consultations at the vice-defense ministerial level and carry out
other military exchanges in the near future.
Xiong said the on-going consultations in Washington represented an
important step forward in putting the development of bilateral
military relations back onto a normal track.
China has always held positive attitudes towards the development of
bilateral military ties, said Xiong, adding China will continue to
conduct military exchanges with the US side.
Xiong said China is ready to work with the United States to remove
all disturbances and obstacles that stand in the way of the
development of bilateral military ties.
Feith said great changes have taken place in the international
situation since the last consultations and the US side regards the
latest meetings as an important channel to exchange views on
regional and world issues and gain a deeper understanding of each
other's strategy and policies.
Feith said it is important for the two sides to discuss regional
and world issues of common interest through consultations and to
understand each other's positions. He said consultations between
the two sides could reduce the risks of miscalculation and
misunderstanding and promote the development of bilateral military
ties.
Xiong arrived in Washington on Sunday. During his stay he also met
with US Presidential National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and
Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.
(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2002)