Department of Defense: The U.S.-China National Defense University Strategic Dialogue was held in Washington, D.C

Source: Ministry of National Defense Network • China Military Trumpet

Department of Defense: The U.S.-China National Defense University Strategic Dialogue was held in Washington, D.C

Ministry of National Defense: Strategic Dialogue between PLA NDU and US NDU Ongoing in Washington

On the afternoon of 27 June, the Ministry of National Defense held a regular press conference, at which Senior Colonel Wu Qian, director of the Information Bureau of the Ministry of National Defense and spokesman of the Ministry of National Defense, answered reporters' questions.

Reporter: Recently, the defense ministers of China and the United States met in person on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue. How do you evaluate the current Sino-US military relations? Will there be more exchanges between the Chinese and U.S. militaries in the next step?

Question: Recently, the defense chiefs of China and the US had an in-person meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue. What’s your comment on the current China-US military-to-military relations? Will the two sides have more exchanges in the future?

Wu Qian: Since November last year, the Chinese and US militaries have resolutely implemented the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, steadily resumed dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and respect, and achieved positive and pragmatic results. During this year's Shangri-La Dialogue, the Chinese and US defense ministers held face-to-face talks and conducted active, pragmatic and constructive strategic communication on issues such as the relations between the two countries and the two militaries, Taiwan and the South China Sea. From June 25 to 29, a delegation from the National Defense University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army went to Washington, D.C., to conduct a strategic dialogue between the Chinese and US National Defense University. It can be said that the current situation in which relations between the two armies have stopped falling and stabilized has not come easily, and it is worth cherishing by both sides.

Wu Qian: Following the important consensus reached by Chinese and US heads of state last November, the two militaries have steadily resumed dialogues and consultation on the basis of equality and respect and achieved some positive and tangible results. On the margins of this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), China’s Defense Minister and US Secretary of Defense met in person and they had a positive, substantive and constructive discussion on topics including the state-to-state and military-to-military relations, the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue. A delegation from the PLA National Defense University (NDU) arrived in Washington D.C. on June 25thfor the Strategic Dialogue with its US counterpart. The China-US military relationship has stabilized from deterioration. The momentum does not come by easily, thus both sides shall cherish it.

What needs to be emphasized is that in developing Sino-US military relations, we must persist in valuing peace, putting stability first, and trust-based. We hope that the US side will correct its perception of China, earnestly respect China's sovereignty, security and development interests, work with China in the same direction, and promote the healthy and stable development of relations between the two countries and the two militaries.

I want to emphasize that developing China-US military-to-military relations requires both sides to value peace, prioritize stability and uphold credibility. We hope the US side adopt a right perception of China, respect China’s sovereignty, security and development interests and work with us in the same direction to pursue a stable and sound relationship.

(Produced by the Ministry of National Defense Network and China's military number)