|
Top China military official visits US
2006-07-17
A vice-chairman of China's Central Military Commission has left for the United States on the highest ranking military visit since a Chinese fighter jet collided with a U.S. surveillance plane in 2001. Guo Boxiong, who ranks second only to President Hu Jintao in the commission, China's top military body, left on Sunday for Washington, at the invitation of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the official Xinhua new agency said. The visit was "the most important Chinese military exchange with another country this year," Xinhua quoted Qian Lihua, at the Foreign Affairs Office of China's Defense Ministry, as saying. Guo's trip is the latest sign of improving military relations between Beijing and Washington, cut off after the spy plane crash over the South China Sea, sparking a diplomatic feud. It also comes as China and the United States seek a common strategy to lure North Korea back to six-party talks aimed at dismantling its nuclear programs, a task made more urgent since the North test-fired several missiles earlier this month. The U.S., which has repeatedly said Beijing's military build-up is not transparent, is keen for China to reciprocate the access Washington has given the Chinese defense forces, Pentagon officials have said.
Female general looks back on her climb (2006-08-14)Anger over Iraq war sets tone in US elections (2006-08-10)Top China military official visits US (2006-07-17)Veteran pleads guilty to vandalizing cars (2006-07-14)Kerry faces hard road in presidential bid (2006-07-01)
| 
