China-US Military Ties: Chinese defense minister welcomes US defense secretary in Beijing

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02:07

Let's go to our correspondent Zheng Yibing in Beijing.

Q1: Mattis has met his Chinese counterpart. Can you tell us more about their meeting, which they described as "open and honest"?

Q2: As you mentioned, the US defense secretary is striking a positive note. What might be the outcome of his visit?

It's the first visit to China by a Pentagon chief since 2014. Beijing is attaching great importance to this, as it holds a grand welcome ceremony for James Mattis.

The Chinese defense ministry says Mattis' visit will help ease tensions, promote mutual trust and facilitate healthy interactions and relations between the two militaries.

WEI FENGHE CHINESE NATIONAL DEFENSE MINISTER "Your visit will give new positive elements to the relationship of our two countries and two militaries."

Mattis expressed the same wish for better military cooperation, and invited his Chinese counterpart to visit the US.

JAMES MATTIS US SECRETARY OF DEFENSE "It is on us to carry out the guidance given to use by President Xi and President Trump at the Mar-a-Lago summit almost a year ago now."

Mattis' trip to China is part of a bilateral consensus reached last year. But it also comes amid recently heightened security tensions between the two over the South China Sea and Taiwan.

However, Mattis has shown an interest in striking a positive tone and focusing on larger, more strategic security issues.

Beijing is also taking this chance to directly communicate its stance of resolutely safeguarding its national sovereignty, territorial integrity and other core interests.

The denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is expected to be among the key topics discussed.