Chinese, U.S. military ties face opportunity for new development

By Yang Qingchuan

WASHINGTON, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- Gen. Xu Caihou, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, is being under the spotlight when he visits the United States from Oct. 24 to Nov. 3.

He is the first senior Chinese military leader to visit the country since Barack Obama assumed the presidency in January.

The high-profile trip is also the most important event in the China-U.S. military relationship this year, officials said.

An essential backdrop for this visit is the military relationship has regained momentum since Chinese President Hu Jintao and President Obama reached a consensus in April in London to improve and enhance bilateral military ties.

Xu's visit and other recent positive developments send out a signal that China-U.S. military ties are enjoying opportunities for new development despite challenges still in hand, analysts said.

BUSY, FRUITFUL VISIT

Qian Lihua, director-general of the foreign affairs office of China's Department of Defense described Xu's visit as both "busy" and "fruitful."

The schedule shows the U.S. side has set great store by this visit, he told reporters at a recent briefing in Washington.

On Monday, Xu was invited by Washington's leading think-tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) to deliver a speech on China's defense policy.

Xu told the audience of nearly 300 U.S. officials, scholars and corporate delegates that China will steadfastly stick to the path of peaceful development and its national defense policy is of defensive nature.

He then had a lunch with former senior U.S. policymakers, including former national security advisor Zbigniew Brzezinski, former defense secretary James Schlesinger, former U.S. trade representative Carla Hills, and they exchanged views on global issues.

On Monday night, Xu attended a dinner hosted by U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and discussed bilateral and international issues with U.S. Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Michael Mullen, former national security advisor Brent Scowcroft and former secretary of defense William Cohen.

The Chinese general held formal talks with Gates at the Pentagon Tuesday and then met separately with U.S. National Security Advisor James Jones and Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.

On Wednesday, President Obama met Xu at the White House.

Xu will visit a number of U.S. military installations during the 11-day trip, including the Strategic Command, the Pacific Command, and several military bases.

Noteworthily, the Strategic Command will open its door to a Chinese military leader for the first time.

The trip has yielded many concrete progress as Xu and Gates reached a consensus on seven issues, including:

Promoting high-level military visits; enhancing cooperation in the area of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief; deepening military medical cooperation; expanding exchanges between armies of the two nations; enhancing the program of mid-grade and junior officer exchanges; promoting cultural and sports exchanges between the two militaries; invigorating the existing diplomatic and consultative mechanisms to improve maritime operational safety.

On broader issues, Xu and his U.S. hosts agreed to further the two-way military relationship and cooperation in a stable and healthy way.