Rumsfeld visits China,paves way for summit meet

US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Beijing yesterday on an official visit described by international-affairs experts as "an important step" towards increasing bilateral military exchanges. 

Rumsfeld's first trip since he took up his current position is also expected to pave the way for US President George W. Bush's visit to China next month.

The White House announced on Monday that Bush would come to China after attending the November 18-19 Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in the South Korean city of Busan.

In New York last month, President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart agreed to push for constructive co-operation.

"Rumsfeld's visit signifies the continuation of increasing mutual trust between the leaders of the two countries," said Zhu Feng, professor at the School of International Studies of Peking University.

The relationship between China and the US is playing an increasingly important role in regional and global affairs, said Zhu; and if bilateral military relations lag behind, it will generate a negative influence on bilateral ties, he noted.

Rumsfeld will meet President Hu, who is also chairman of the Central Military Commission, as well as his Chinese counterpart General Cao Gangchuan.

He will also visit the Central Party School and the Academy of Military Science of the People's Liberation Army, and meet Guo Boxiong, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, and Jing Zhiyuan, Commander of Second Artillery Force.

China hopes that through the visit, Rumsfeld could have a "complete and objective" understanding of China's defensive national defence policy, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan yesterday.

"Leaders will exchange views on bilateral relations, military ties as well as issues of common concern on regional and international affairs," said Kong.

Beijing hopes the visit can "increase mutual understanding and trust" between the two sides, according to Kong.

"We hope Rumsfeld's visit to China ... will increase his understanding of China's policy of firmly taking a peaceful road," he said.

Rumsfeld said the U.S. government welcomes China's emergence as an economic power. But he also said that development has created "somewhat of a tension" for China's leaders as they attempt to cope with new influences and ideas that inevitably enter the country along with foreign investment.

"China is an important country in the region; it's a country that's increasingly important in the world," he said.

China agreed to allow Rumsfeld to visit the headquarters of the strategic rocket forces at Qinghe, making him the first U.S. official ever to see the Second Artillery complex, according to Pentagon officials.

Zhu Feng predicted that Rumsfeld and the Chinese officials may touch on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and the Taiwan question.

Kong urged US officials to keep their commitments on the Taiwan question by adhering to the one-China policy and opposing Taiwan independence.

Over the past years, bilateral military exchanges have been strengthened.

Chinese Defence Minister Cao visited the United States in October 2003, and General Richard Myers, former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, toured China in 2004.(China Daily)

Backgrounder:

Major events for Sino-US military exchanges

Following are major events of Sino-US military exchanges since 2003:

-- US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Beijing on Oct. 18, kicking off his three-day official good-will visit to China at the invitation of his Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan.

This is his first visit to China as Defense Secretary since taking up the post in January 2001.

-- Admiral William Fallon, Commander of the US Pacific Command, made his first visit to China in September 2005 as guest of Liu Zhenwu, commander of the Guangzhou Military Area Command.

During his stay, Fallon had meetings with Guo Boxiong, vice-chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission, Liang Guanglie, chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of PLA General Staff, and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, agreeing in their meetings to further promote contacts and dialogues in the military field.

-- Defense Ministries of China and the United States held their seventh round of consultation on defense at vice-ministerial level on April 28-29, 2005 in Washington.

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

The two sides agreed to strengthen military exchanges and promote mutual trust in the coming year.

-- Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US armed forces, visited China on Jan. 14-15, 2004 as guest of Chief of PLA General Staff Liang Guanglie,

It is the first visit of a senior US military official since November 2000. Myers met with Jiang Zemin, then chairman of the Chinese Central Military Commission (CMC), and military leaders Guo Boxiong, Cao Gangchuan and Liang Guanglie.

Myers said military relations between the United States and China are "progressing well", adding his visit was "one more step" in developing Sino-US military exchanges.

-- Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan made an official goodwill visit to the United States on October, 2003 at the invitation his US counterpart Donald Rumsfeld.

Cao's US tour is the first visit by a Chinese defense minister since 1996. He met with US President George W. Bush, then US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, then presidential security adviser.

He conferred Rumsfeld on international and regional security and other issues of common concern, and visit US military units and schools. (Xinhua)