A senior foreign affairs officer of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) yesterday described US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's trip to China as "constructive and fruitful."

During his three-day trip, which concluded yesterday, defense leaders of China and US committed to improving the bilateral military relationship, bringing it up to par with overall bilateral ties.

"Now, as bilateral defense relations lag behind, the two militaries should take measures to push forward their partnership," said Major General Zhang Bangdong, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense.

China and US share the important goal of seeking security, prosperity and stability for their peoples, said Rumsfeld yesterday in meeting with researchers with the PLA Academy of Military Science.

"We are working together in a number of areas," said Zhang, citing economy, trade, anti-terrorism and the Six-Party Talks on the nuclear issues on Korean Peninsula as examples.

"US welcomes the emergence of a peaceful and prosperous China," he noted, adding that China should become a responsible partner in the international system.

He said that it is appropriate for China to push forward its military development, but called for more transparency. "Greater clarity would generate more certainty in the region."

During Rumsfeld's visit to China, President Hu Jintao, also chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), Cao Gangchuan and Guo Boxiong, both vice chairmen of the CMC, all held separate meetings with the defense secretary.

"In their meetings, leaders from both countries showed positive attitudes toward developing bilateral ties," said Zhang.

Although there are differences between them, they all agreed to "seek common points while reserving differences," according to Zhang.

(China Daily October 21, 2005)