SINGAPORE, Jun 11 (NNN-CNA) – Chinese State Councillor and Defence Minister, Wei Fenghe and U.S. Secretary of Defence, Lloyd Austin, agreed yesterday, to enhance strategic mutual trust and properly manage differences between the militaries of the two countries.
The two defence chiefs, who met here on the sidelines of the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue, agreed that the two militaries should implement the important consensus reached by their heads of state, maintain high-level strategic communication, and should not turn differences into conflict and confrontation.
Wei said, currently peace and development, the underlying trends of our times, are facing severe challenges. The Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, proposed by Chinese President, Xi Jinping, have charted the right course for humanity to overcome crises, and peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific demands joint efforts of regional countries.
He said, China hopes to build a major-country relationship with the United States, featuring sound and stable development, which should be the direction of joint efforts by both countries.
The United States should view China’s development and growth in a rational way, and refrain from attacking, smearing, containing and suppressing China. It must neither interfere in China’s internal affairs nor harm China’s interests, Wei said, noting that, only in this way can relations between China and the United States proceed towards positive outcomes.
Stable relations between the two militaries are crucial for the development of relations between the two countries, he said, adding, the two militaries should avoid conflict and confrontation.
Wei stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and the one-China principle is the political foundation of China-U.S. relationship.– NNN-CNA
