Beijing, Jan 14: China and US today agreed to
revive military links nearly three years after it got derailed
following mid-air collision of an american spy plane and a
Chinese fighter jet.
This was decided during a meeting here between the
Chief of Staff of the Chinese People' Liberation Army(PLA),
genera Liang Guanglie and the visiting chairman of the joint
Chiefs of Staff of the US armed forces, General Richard Myers.
Liang, also a member of the Chinese central military
commission, said "we hope to make efforts with the us side to
further the development of forward looking, healthy and stable
military relations as an increasingly active element of
overall constructive and cooperative Sino-US relations.
He said the enhancement of bilateral friendship and
cooperative relations benefited regional and world peace and
stability.
Myers' visit to China is considered the next step in a
gradual opening of military relations between Washington and
Beijing, whose relations hit a low point on April 1, 2001
after a Chinese fighter collided with a US Navy EP-3
surveillance plane over the south China sea.
The pilot of the Chinese aircraft was killed and the
crippled EP-3 was forced to make an emergency landing at a
airbase on China's Hainan island, where the plane's crew was
held by the PLA for 11 days.
During the meeting, Liang also enunciated on China's
principled stance on the Taiwan issue, which is the core issue
in Sino-US relations.
Bureau Report
