Senior Chinese and US military officials agreed to strengthen military exchanges and promote mutual trust in the coming year after holding their seventh round of consultation on defense at vice-ministerial level in Washington on Thursday and Friday.  

The Chinese side is headed by Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and the US side by Douglas Feith, undersecretary of defense for policy.

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

The Chinese side briefed US officials on the contents of a new edition of China's Defense White Paper and the Chinese military modernization while the US side informed Chinese officials of the plan for the redeployment of US military forces around the world.

Both sides agreed that China and the United States have common interests on many regional and global issues and therefore should strengthen coordination and bilateral exchanges, broaden common ground in order to maintain regional and global peace and stability.

Both sides also agreed the US and Chinese militaries should strengthen dialogue and bilateral exchanges in order to enhance mutual understanding and trust.

The atmosphere of the consultation was described as "frank and constructive" with both sides agreeing that the talks had achieved positive results.

During his stay in Washington, Xiong also met US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns.

(Xinhua News Agency April 30, 2005)