Senior Chinese and US military officials held their fifth round of consultations on defense at the vice-defense ministerial level on Monday and Tuesday and agreed to maintain contacts and consultations on friendly bilateral military exchanges in the coming years.

During their meetings, the two sides exchanged views on the regional and international security situation, state-to-state relations and bilateral military ties, as well as other issues of common concern.

General Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army of China, and Douglas Feith, US undersecretary of defense for policy, attended the meetings. The fourth round of consultations was held in December 2000.

During his talks with Feith, Xiong said Sino-US relations encountered some troubles and setbacks in the first half of last year. However, thanks to the joint efforts of both sides and the three meetings between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President George W. Bush, bilateral ties have witnessed great improvement and development.

The continued improvement of bilateral ties has created a favorable atmosphere for the resumption and improvement of relations between the two armies, the Chinese general said.

During Jiang's visit to the United States in October, China and the United States agreed to resume bilateral military exchanges, hold consultations at the vice-defense ministerial level and carry out other military exchanges in the near future.

Xiong said the on-going consultations in Washington represented an important step forward in putting the development of bilateral military relations back onto a normal track.

China has always held positive attitudes towards the development of bilateral military ties, said Xiong, adding China will continue to conduct military exchanges with the US side.

Xiong said China is ready to work with the United States to remove all disturbances and obstacles that stand in the way of the development of bilateral military ties.

Feith said great changes have taken place in the international situation since the last consultations and the US side regards the latest meetings as an important channel to exchange views on regional and world issues and gain a deeper understanding of each other's strategy and policies.

Feith said it is important for the two sides to discuss regional and world issues of common interest through consultations and to understand each other's positions. He said consultations between the two sides could reduce the risks of miscalculation and misunderstanding and promote the development of bilateral military ties.

Xiong arrived in Washington on Sunday. During his stay he also met with US Presidential National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice and Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.

(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2002)