Defense Minister Meets US GuestsDefense Minister Chi Haotian met Thursday with Daniel Christman, superintendent of the United States Military Academy, also known as West Point, to exchange views on the relations between the two countries and their armed forces as well as other areas of common concern.Chi, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a State Councilor, expressed his appreciation for the role the academy has played in promoting the exchanges between the two armed forces. He said he hoped that the academy would continue to develop the relations between the two armed forces. On Sino-US relations and the Taiwan issue, he said that the proper settlement of the Taiwan issue is the key to securing the healthy and stable development of Sino-US relations. The Chinese government's basic principle on resolving the Taiwan issue is still peaceful reunification and one country, two systems, and it will not promise to give up the use of force, he said, adding that the reunification of the motherland is the general trend and favored by the Chinese people. Christman said that this visit was long-awaited, and he hoped that the two armed forces would continue to promote mutual exchanges. Christman and his party arrived here on Wednesday at the invitation of Chinese People's Liberation Army Headquarters of the General Staff. Wu Quanxu, deputy chief of the General Staff of Chinese PLA, attended the meeting. |
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