China, US agree to regular army talks
Print Edition
China and the United States yesterday moved to establish regular dialogue between their armies as part of efforts to build trust and understanding amid rising regional tensions.
Relations between the two militaries, which have progressed by fits and starts, are now “headed in the right direction,” visiting US Army Chief of Staff General Raymond Odierno said.
“I have a very positive opinion on our future relationship as we develop the army dialogue,” Odierno told the People’s Liberation Army’s Chief of the General Staff General Fang Fenghui at a meeting at the Ministry of National Defense in western Beijing.
“I believe these discussions are important to continue our dialogue. We have many common objectives,” Odierno said.
Fang and other Chinese generals with whom Odierno met said a consensus had been reached on holding regular meetings and boosting cooperation between the US and Chinese land forces on topics such as peacekeeping and educational exchanges.
Fang said that China agreed with Odierno’s suggestion that relations between the two armies should advance on the principles of engagement, sharing and balance.
“I think that is quite a constructive idea,” Fang said.
Odierno’s visit began hours before a scheduled meeting later yesterday in Washington between President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama that drew a strong protest from China. Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of being a separatist agitator and opposes any meetings between him and foreign leaders.
Despite tensions between them, the two militaries have pushed ahead with limited steps to reduce long-standing mistrust.
They have held simulations aimed at cooperating in humanitarian relief operations, and China’s Navy later this year is to take part in multinational naval exercises off Hawaii.
Earlier yesterday, Odierno, the former commander of US forces in Iraq, was welcomed with full military honors, visited the headquarters of the Beijing Military Region and held a dialogue with scholars and students at prestigious Peking University.
Odierno will travel north today to tour the headquarters of China’s Shenyang Military Region.
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