A Chinese general attended the ongoing China-U.S. Strategic Dialogue in Beijing Thursday, becoming the first Chinese military official at the dialogue.

Ding Jingong, deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND), joined the dialogue along with James Shinn, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense, according to an MND foreign affairs office press release.

The dialogue, the fifth such event, is being co-chaired by Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Dai Bingguo and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte.

During the dialogue, the two sides are expected to exchange views "deeply" and "frankly" on strengthening strategic mutual trust between their countries and militaries, according to the press release.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2008)