Timothy Keating, US Pacific Command commander-in-chief, will
visit China from Jan. 13 to 16, the Chinese Ministry of National
Defense (MND) said on Tuesday.
During Keating's China stay, senior Chinese generals and
officials from the Central Military Commission, the General Staff
of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Guangzhou Military
Area Command and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will meet him
separately, the foreign affairs office of the MND said in a press
release.
The Chinese officials were expected to widely exchange views
with Keating on Sino-U.S. military ties, the Taiwan issue, and
international and regional affairs of common concern, according to
the press release.
The four-day tour would also take Keating to the country's
financial hub of Shanghai, and Guangzhou, capital of the southern
Guangdong Province. There, he was scheduled to
visit the PLA military institutions and bases and hold a seminar
with Chinese military officials.
"China takes positive attitude toward developing military
relations with the United States, and hopes Keating's visit could
further enhance understanding, expand consensus and boost
cooperation, so as to promote the bilateral military ties to grow
steadily in the new year," the release said.
The MND was consulting with the U.S. side on detailing
arrangements of the visit.
Keating was visiting China for the second time since being
appointed to the post in March. He was last in Beijing in May.
(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2008)
