Chinese and US DMs on International SituationChina will stick to her independent foreign policy of peace and make joint efforts with the other countries in developing friendly relations and creating a peaceful and stable security environment on the basis of five principles of peaceful co-existence.Chinese Defense Minister Chi Haotian made the remarks Wednesday in a meeting with his counterpart of the United States William Cohen. Chi said fundamental changes have taken place in the current international situation after the cold war ended. China was, is and will be an important strength to safeguard world and regional peace and stability, he added. He said with the common efforts of China and the U.S., especially with the support of the leaders of the two counties, China-U.S. relations, which underwent up and down last year, have been improved. It is not easy to achieve the current situation and both sides should value it, he added. Cohen said the U.S. and China have shared common interest and shoulder the responsibility in safeguarding world peace and development. The U.S. government holds that it should not contain China, he said, adding that the U.S. should continue to develop its relationship with China and commit to furthering the cooperation and mutual understanding with China, so as to safeguard peace and development of the Asian-Pacific region, and bring happiness to people of the two countries and the world as well. He said the U.S. government supports China's accession to the World Trade Organization, and will make the congress to pass China 's Permanent Normal Trade Relations resolution as soon as possible. The two sides also exchanged views on the regional security of common concern. After the talks, Chi and Cohen signed an agreement between the U.S. Department of Defense and the Chinese Ministry of National Defense of China concerning exchange of environmental protection research and development information. |
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