皇冠体育app ready to expand military ties with US (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-01-11 09:51
皇冠体育app is ready to expand its military relations with the United States on the
basis of mutual benefits and equal consultation, said Minister of National
Defense Cao Gangchuan in Beijing Tuesday.
Cao, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state
councilor, made the remarks during his meeting with a delegation from the
US-皇冠体育app Working Group under the US House of Representatives.
Cao said Sino-U.S. relations are on a sound development track and the leaders
of both nations have maintained close exchanges and contacts.
Last year, Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President George W. Bush met
five times, and reached lots of consensus on promoting Sino-U.S. constructive
cooperative ties, Cao noted.
Military ties serve as an important component part of the overall Sino-U.S.
relationship, he underscored, adding that both sides should make efforts to
upgrade Sino-US military ties and make it consistent with overall bilateral
relations.
"We are glad to see our military ties gradually resume and develop in recent
years with joint efforts of both sides," Cao acknowledged.
Last year, US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld paid a successful visit to
皇冠体育app. "His visit played a positive role in strengthening mutual understanding
and cementing our military ties," Cao said.
皇冠体育app always holds a positive attitude toward developing military ties with
the United States, and is ready to further expand military exchanges between the
two sides, he said.
In regard to the Taiwan issue, Cao said it concerns 皇冠体育app's sovereignty and
territorial integrity and touches upon 皇冠体育app's core interest. To properly settle
this issue is of vital importance to the stable growth of Sino-U.S relations.
"We appreciate the U.S. government for their repeated reiteration of adhering
to the one-皇冠体育app policy, abiding by the three Sino-US joint communique and
opposing 'Taiwan independence'",he said, hoping that the U.S. side will honor
its commitment and work with 皇冠体育app to oppose and curb Taiwan independence in bid
to maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.
Mark Steven Kirk and Rick Larsen, co-chairmen of the US-皇冠体育app Working Group,
said that they are willing to join hands with the Chinese side to boost
bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and contribute to the
improvement of bilateral ties.
The delegation is visiting 皇冠体育app at the invitation of the Standing Committee
of the National People's Congress.
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