CHINA / National
New stage for China-US military ties
(China Daily)
Updated: 2006-07-19 06:20
The current visit to the US by Guo Boxiong, vice-chairman of the Central
Military Commission, indicates that Sino-US military relations have
entered a new stage, analysts and army officers have said.
General Guo Boxiong shakes hands with US defense secretary Donald
Rumsfeld outside Pentagon yesterday. [Reuters]
General Guo arrived in Los Angeles on Sunday. During the one-week visit,
Guo is expected to visit the Pentagon and military institutions.
Guo is paying a return visit after US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld
visited Beijing last October.
Guo is the highest-ranking Chinese military officer to visit the United
States since 2001, when the two countries cut their military ties after a
Chinese fighter jet was hit by a US spy plane over the South China Sea,
sending bilateral ties to a low point, noted Zhu Chenghu, a professor
with the National Defence University.
"The visit shows Beijing is willing to improve military relations with
Washington, which serves the fundamental interests of both sides," he
told China Daily yesterday.
Guo's visit comes at a time when the international community is trying to
bring Pyongyang back to nuclear disarmament talks. Zhu said Guo is
expected to discuss security issues in Northeast Asia with his US
counterparts, especially the missile tests by the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea two weeks ago.
Qian Lihua, deputy director of the foreign affairs office of the Ministry
of National Defence, said the visit is the most important event in the
People's Liberation Army's foreign relations this year.
It will help achieve the consensus reached by the two heads of state on
developing military relations, Qian said at the weekend on the eve of
Guo's visit.
In a written statement released upon his arrival, Guo said that China and
the United States share extensive mutual strategic interests and a good
basis for co-operation. Calling the two countries not only stakeholders
but also constructive partners, Guo said a better Sino-US relationship
would be strategically important in maintaining peace, stability and
prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region as well as in the rest of the world.
He stressed that China-US relations are progressing well after President
Hu Jintao and his US counterpart George W. Bush reached consensus on
promoting constructive co-operation in all areas during Hu's US visit in
April.
According to Guo, military relations between the two countries are
showing favourable momentum after the two presidents agreed to further
expand exchanges between armed forces.
For the first time ever, a Chinese delegation was invited last month to
observe one of the largest US military exercises in decades off Guam in
the Pacific.
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Today's Top News
� Reform's intention to narrow wealth gap
� NBS: No one-off RMB appreciation
� Indonesia tsunami kills 350
� New stage for China-US military ties
� Tsunami kills over 300 in Indonesia
Top China News
� Hui calls for flood-control efforts amid Bilis ravage
� NBS: No one-off RMB appreciation
� Death toll of Bilis rises to 198
� Official: No decision made on interests rate rise
� ADB raises nation's 2006, 2007 growth forecasts
Alibaba is the largest B2B marketplace in the world. Source model ship,
wooden puzzle, one-piece toilet, RC hovercraft, photo album, prom dress,
pocket bike, Vaginal Speculum, Samurai Sword, String Panty and PVC Pipe.
Learn Chinese
No comments:
Post a Comment