Visiting Chinese Defense
Minister Cao Gangchuan on Tuesday met with US Defense Secretary
Donald H. Rumsfeld at the Pentagon for talks on international and
regional security, military-to-military ties and other issues of
common concern.
Cao, also vice chairman
of China's Central Military Commission and a state councilor, and
Rumsfeld agreed that their talks were positive, constructive and
fruitful.
Cao said China and the
United States, both as large and influential countries in the
world, have broad common interest and basis for cooperation on
important international and regional security issues.
He said that the
development of a healthy and stable relationship serves the
fundamental interests of the two countries.
Cao said
military-to-military ties are an essential part of the Sino-US
relations and a healthy and stable relationship between the two
militaries is in the interest of both sides.
China is glad to see
that the military relations are restoring and developing thanks to
the support of the leaders of the two countries and the efforts by
the defense departments of the two sides, Cao said.
Cao noted that the
Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive core issue in the
Sino-US relations.
He expressed hope that
the United States adheres to the principles of the three joint
communiqués and its commitment to opposing "Taiwan independence",
and handles the Taiwan issue properly, including the arms
sale.
Particularly, Cao
pointed out, the United States should not sell advanced arms to
Taiwan, nor should it conduct any military exchanges and
cooperation with Taiwan.
In his remarks, Rumsfeld
spoke highly of the momentum in the development of the relations
between the two countries and the two militaries, adding that China
is an important country and the development of bilateral relations
in various fields are beneficial to both sides.
Rumsfeld said the
bilateral relations met with some difficulties at the beginning of
the Bush administration. But the relations have returned to normal
two years later and the military-to-military exchanges have
increased recently.
On the issue of Taiwan,
Rumsfeld said the US government abides by the "One China" policy
and a peaceful solution on the issue.
Cao arrived here Monday
for the first high-level visit by a Chinese defense minister since
1996.
(Xinhua News Agency
October 29, 2003)