Chinese VP meets key American military officials

more important common responsibilities, Xi said.
Xi said both countries should make efforts to ensure the development trend of the two countries’ mutually beneficial relationship, enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation and manage divergence properly, in order to better maintain and develop the cooperative partnership between the two countries.
Reviewing the past year’s high-level military exchanges and dialogue between the two sides, Xi noted that the relationship between the two military establishments is an important part of China-US ties, and must subject to and serve the bilateral cooperative partnership as a whole.
He said he hoped the two countries’ defence apparatus, based on the principle of mutual respect and mutual trust, equality and reciprocity, will continue to expand dialogue and exchanges.
He said, he also hoped that the two countries’ defences would respect and tend to each other’s major concerns, nurture and enhance strategic mutual trust in an effort to build a healthy, stable and mature military to military relationship.
Panetta and Dempsey welcomed Xi to the United States. Panetta said “it is truly an honour” to host Xi at the Pentagon.
They noted both the United States and China are Pacific powers, and enhancing co-operation can serve the interests of both countries as well as those of the entire world.
The US expressed the belief that it is essential for both countries to enhance mutual trust in order to advance their cooperative partnership.
Panetta and Dempsey said the US is willing to work with China to conduct more high-level visits, enhance mutual strategic trust, and build a robust military to military relationship that can benefit the bilateral relationship as a whole.
Before the talks, the US held an elaborate ceremony for Xi. He passed through an honour cordon, and received full military honors, including a 19-gun salute and the playing of both the Chinese and US national anthems. – Xinhua.