US Secretary of Defense William Cohen Wednesday met Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), marking the resumption of high-level military contact between the two countries since the US-led NATO's bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade last May.

Xiong, who led a military delegation to attend the third defense consultations between defense departments of the two countries, said he believed that the common interests and approaches are more important for the two countries than the differences that still exist in some areas.

According to a press release by the Chinese delegation, Cohen said he is satisfied with the success of the consultations, stressing that the US administration pays great attention to the relations with China and hopes to develop a normal, positive and good relationship with the country.

On Taiwan, Cohen reaffirmed the principle of "one-China" policy, commitment in the three joint communiques guiding US-China relations and the "three no" promise, expressing his hope that the issue will be resolved peacefully.

Xiong noted that a stable and sound relationship between China and the United States, two influential countries in the world, is not only in the common interests of the two, but also conducive toworld peace, stability and development.

The two countries should view and handle the relationship, particularly the issue of Taiwan, with wisdom and strategic vision, he said.

China is willing to seek common interests, expand cooperation and narrow differences based on the principles of mutual respect and equality to bring a sound and stable Sino-US relationship into the new century, Xiong added.

Xiong, who arrived in Washington on January 22, also met US Under Secretary of Defense Walter Slocombe on a broad range of subjects including global, regional, military-to-military contact program and other bilateral issues.

Speaking of the international situation, Xiong indicated that despite the unstoppable trend of multi-polarization of the world order, hegemonism and power politics still exist and such policies have developed into forms like new "gunship diplomacy," "new economic colonialism" and "new interventionism."

The practice of such policies have undermined the sovereignty and independence of many countries and jeopardized the world peace and security, Xiong was quoted by the press release.

History has proved that the doctrine of protecting security by military buildup and alliance cannot ensure security nor safeguard the world peace, Xiong said.

China believes that a new world order with peace, justice, prosperity and stability can be ushered in only if world leaders abandon the "Cold War" logic and strictly abide by the five principles of peaceful co-existence, the United Nations Charter and other international norms, Xiong added.

Slocombe was quoted by the press release as telling Xiong that links between countries are strengthened and their security is further interwoven as the economic globalization deepens.

He said the role of military power is important in safeguarding US national security and interests and that the United States will continue to maintain the power. But cooperation with other countries is also needed to achieve the goal, Slocombe added. Xiong told Slocombe that the Taiwan issue remains the most important and sensitive core issue in the Sino-US relationship.

China is seriously concerned by the recent sales of weapons to Taiwan, the attempt by some congressmen to put the so-called Taiwan Security Enhancement for approval in Congress and the attempt to bring Taiwan into the US Theater Missile Defense system, Xiong said.

The US side should recognize the seriousness and harmfulness of the problems and take effective measures as early as possible to prevent further damages to the Sino-US relationship, Xiong said.

Referring to the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade, Xiong urged Washington to give the Chinese people a satisfactory explanation by finishing a thorough and comprehensive investigation at an earlier date and punishing those who are responsible.

Reaffirming the engagement with China, Slocombe said that the United States hopes China will continue to play an important and constructive role in the world.

Acknowledging the importance and sensitiveness of the Taiwan issue, the United States will maintain its "one-China" policy, Slocombe said.

Xiong also met with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Henry Shelton, Deputy National Security Advisor Jim Steinberg and Under-Secretary of State Thomas Pickering.

The third Sino-US defense consultation was supposed to be held in the second half of 1999. The Chinese government, however, decided to postpone the high-level military exchanges after the U.S.-led NATO bombed the Chinese embassy on May 8, 1999 during the air campaign against Yugoslavia.

Sino-US relations have improved since President Jiang Zemin and US President Bill Clinton had a successful meeting in Auckland, New Zealand, in September. The negotiations on China's entry into the World Trade Organization ended in success in November and an agreement on the compensation of the casualties and property losses during the embassy bombing was also reached in December. (Xinhua)