Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held a meeting this Monday with the first delegation of US congressmen to visit China since 2019, in which he urged to “eliminate factors of interference and restrictions” to improve the relationship between the armed forces of both countries.
The U.S. delegation is headed by Congressman Adam Smith, the leading Democratic member of the House Armed Services Committee.
During the meeting, Dong alluded to the recent conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, in which, according to the minister, it was emphasized that both countries “can contribute to mutual benefit and shared prosperity,” according to a statement published by the Chinese Ministry of Defense.
Dong expressed his expectation that US lawmakers adopt “constructive and pragmatic” measures aimed at fostering progress in the bilateral relationship, according to the military statement, which did not include Smith’s statements during the meeting.
The minister added that the Chinese Army is willing to build with the United States Armed Forces a bond “of equality and respect”, oriented towards “peaceful coexistence” and a “stable and positive” evolution.
The Chinese defense chief also stated that Beijing will “firmly defend” its sovereignty, security, and development interests.
Regarding contact mechanisms, it was stated that both parties should keep military communication channels “open” and support them with concrete actions that contribute to a “stable, healthy and sustainable” development of both the relationship between the two countries and the ties between their military institutions.
The delegation met this Sunday with Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang, who asked the United States House of Representatives to play a constructive role in improving bilateral relations.
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He confided to U.S. representatives that the U.S. Congress should view ties with China “correctly”, facilitate exchanges and cooperation, and play “a constructive role” in promoting bilateral friendship and common development.
The visit by US lawmakers takes place days after the call between Xi and Trump, in which they tried to bring positions closer on trade issues and showed their satisfaction with the bilaterally agreed framework for the TikTok application to continue operating in the North American country.
The official Chinese press has celebrated the call, after which the officialist newspaper Global Times considered in an editorial that the bilateral relationship “has gradually stabilized” and that the contact between both leaders “sent an important signal” to the international community.
