Washington: Calling peaceful rise of China
good for the region and the world, the Pentagon on Friday said
that the United States wants a productive and constructive
relationship with China.
"It is also a very big country, an economic power. The
peaceful rise of China is not only good for the region, it`s
good for the world. This is a country that we want to have a
good, constructive, productive relationship with," the
Pentagon spokesman, Navy Capt John Kirby said in response to a
question about the kind of relationship the US wants to have
with China.
US has been trying very hard to develop a good,
constructive military relationship with China and "it is
moving in the right direction," Kirby asserted.
"Navies exist to protect national security interests of
their countries. That`s what they do. All navies have to be
ready for operation. Our navy is ready for operations.
"We certainly wouldn`t begrudge the Chinese government
from wanting to ensure that their navy was fit for sea," Kirby
said when asked about a recent statement by the Chinese
President in which he asked his navy to become stronger.
The Chinese vice president will be visiting the United
States next year.
Early this week, the US and China agreed to continue to
strengthen their communication channels in various areas of
military-to-military relationship.
Decision in this regard was taken at the just concluded
12th US-China Defence Consultative Talks, co-chaired by the
Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, Michele Flournoy and
Deputy Chief of the People`s Liberation Army General Staff
Department Gen Ma Xiaotian.
The talks were held in Beijing on December 7.
The Defence Consultative Talks helped to establish a
framework for US-China military-to-military relations,
translate their common interests into concrete actions, and
expand areas where US can cooperate and discuss mutual
expectations in several areas, a Pentagon statement said.
"These talks represent the highest level bilateral
dialogue between our two defense establishments and help to
establish a framework for US-China military-to-military
relations," it added.
PTI
