国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese, U.S. military officials to exchange visits in 2011

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- Senior Chinese and U.S. military officials will exchange visits in 2011, a Chinese Defense Ministry official said here Friday.

The two sides have agreed that U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates will visit China from Jan. 10 to Jan. 14, 2011, and Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), will visit the United States at a mutually convenient date in 2011, Guan Youfei, deputy director of the ministry's Foreign Affairs Office, told a press conference.

The news briefing was held after defense consultations between China and the United States on Friday, which was co-chaired by Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff of the PLA, and U.S. Under Secretary of Defense Michele Flournoy.

Guan Youfei, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Chinese Defense Ministry, gestures during a press conference in Washington Dec. 10, 2010. Senior Chinese and U.S. military officials will exchange visits in 2011, Guan said here Friday.

During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on relations between the Chinese and U.S. militaries, maritime safety, national defense building and army building, as well as some international and regional issues. The atmosphere was candid and pragmatic, Guan said.

Guan said the Chinese side attaches importance to Gates' upcoming China visit, and hopes it will deepen mutual understanding of the armed forces of the two sides, expand consensus and contribute to the healthy and stable development of their ties.

Ma and Flournoy agreed that relations between the two armed forces are an integral part of bilateral ties, and it is important to keep it healthy and stable; and that the two countries' militaries should maintain dialogues and exchanges at various levels to enhance mutual understanding and avoid miscalculations.

During the talks, Ma also noted the Sino-U.S. relationship has not only bilateral implications, but increasing global influence. China values the relationship between the two countries' armed forces, and has made sincere efforts to advance it. China is willing to enhance dialogue and exchanges with the United States to promote mutual understanding and trust.