Question: On December 21, General Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), had a video talk with General Charles Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US military, at the request of the latter. Could you please brief us on relevant measures taken by China and the United States to further develop the mil-to-mil ties?
Defense Spokesperson Wu Qian: During their San Francisco meeting last month, the heads of state of China and the US agreed to resume, on the basis of equality and respect, high-level military-to-military communication, the China-U.S. Defense Policy Coordination Talks, and the China-U.S. Military Maritime Consultative Agreement meetings, and to conduct telephone conversations between theater commanders.
On the night of December 21st, General Liu Zhenli, Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission (CMC), had a video call with General Charles Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US military. The two sides exchanged candid and in-depth views on implementing the important military-related consensus reached between the two heads of state in San Francisco and on other issues of common interest. The video call yielded positive and constructive outcomes.
Going forward, we expect the US side to work with us in the same direction and take concrete actions on the basis of equality and respect to promote the sound and steady development of China-US military-to-military relationship. As for specific exchange programs, the defense authorities of the two countries are in communication and coordination with each other. We will release relevant information in due course.
