China, US reach consensus on military exchanges
Source: Xinhua |
January 11, 2011, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA and the United States have agreed to avoid misunderstanding in developing military ties during United States Defense Secretary Robert Gates' visit to Beijing to restore impaired high-level military exchanges.
Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and Gates yesterday reached a consensus on joint efforts to expand common interests, deepen dialogue and exchanges, and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation to ensure military ties get back on track.
They pledged to keep open the channel for exchanges such as defense and maritime security consultations between the two militaries.
"There are many areas where we have mutual interests and can work together, disagreements are best dealt with through dialogue and discussions with one another," said Gates.
His visit was one of the scheduled high-level contacts that were postponed after the Pentagon decided to sell a US$6.4 billion arms package to Taiwan in January, 2010.
While reaching agreements on developing resumed military exchanges, the Chinese defense chief warned that arms sales to Taiwan "jeopardizes China's core interests."
"We do not want to see such things happen again. We do not want US weapon sales to Taiwan to further damage the relationship between China and the US and the two nations' armed forces," Liang told reporters after talks with Gates.
Asked about the development of China's military power, Liang rejected claims that the country's military development was a threat, saying its weapons lagged far behind developed countries. "China's military hardware development is to meet its sovereignty and security requirements and targets no other countries and poses no threat to others," said Liang.
During his meeting with Gates yesterday, Vice President Xi Jinping stressed a "reliable political basis" for Sino-US military ties, which had gone through ups and downs in past years.
Xi urged the two militaries to take measures to safeguard mutual respect for sovereignty, security and development. "China-US military relationship, as an important part of bilateral ties, is a sensitive field with more complicated factors," he said, hoping military relations could move forward in a stable manner.
Calling US-China relations the "most important" bilateral ties in the world, Gates said his visit achieved "important progress" in building military ties.
Gates will visit the command of the Second Artillery Force of the People's Liberation Army tomorrow.
Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and Gates yesterday reached a consensus on joint efforts to expand common interests, deepen dialogue and exchanges, and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation to ensure military ties get back on track.
They pledged to keep open the channel for exchanges such as defense and maritime security consultations between the two militaries.
"There are many areas where we have mutual interests and can work together, disagreements are best dealt with through dialogue and discussions with one another," said Gates.
His visit was one of the scheduled high-level contacts that were postponed after the Pentagon decided to sell a US$6.4 billion arms package to Taiwan in January, 2010.
While reaching agreements on developing resumed military exchanges, the Chinese defense chief warned that arms sales to Taiwan "jeopardizes China's core interests."
"We do not want to see such things happen again. We do not want US weapon sales to Taiwan to further damage the relationship between China and the US and the two nations' armed forces," Liang told reporters after talks with Gates.
Asked about the development of China's military power, Liang rejected claims that the country's military development was a threat, saying its weapons lagged far behind developed countries. "China's military hardware development is to meet its sovereignty and security requirements and targets no other countries and poses no threat to others," said Liang.
During his meeting with Gates yesterday, Vice President Xi Jinping stressed a "reliable political basis" for Sino-US military ties, which had gone through ups and downs in past years.
Xi urged the two militaries to take measures to safeguard mutual respect for sovereignty, security and development. "China-US military relationship, as an important part of bilateral ties, is a sensitive field with more complicated factors," he said, hoping military relations could move forward in a stable manner.
Calling US-China relations the "most important" bilateral ties in the world, Gates said his visit achieved "important progress" in building military ties.
Gates will visit the command of the Second Artillery Force of the People's Liberation Army tomorrow.
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