Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan reiterated China's stance on the Taiwan issue in Beijing on Feb 10, saying "Chinese people themselves are more eager than anyother to realize the peaceful reunification of China."

    Cao, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a State Councilor, made the remarks during his meeting with Douglas Jay Feith, US under secretary of defense for policy. Feithis here for the sixth round of consultations on defense at the vice defense ministerial level.

    Cao said that during this positive and constructive consultation, the two sides exchanged views on issues of common concern, which promotes the mutual understanding and trust betweenthe two sides.

    He pointed out that to hold such defense consultations is important consensus reached by heads of state of China and the United States.

    "It is a major sign of the normalization of military exchanges between China and the United States, as well as its important content," he added.

    Facts proved that the defense consultations are an effective mechanism to enhance mutual understanding and trust and to promotebilateral military relations, he said, hoping that this mechanism will be continued and further contribute to the future developmentof bilateral relations.

    Cao also emphasized that China always held active attitudes toward development of bilateral military relations, and would liketo make joint efforts with the US side to push forward its healthyand stable development.

    "This will inject positive elements to the constructive and cooperative Sino-US relations," he stressed.

    Feith agreed with Cao's evaluation of Sino-US relations and the defense consultation mechanism.

    He said: "After our serious discussion on key issues including the Korean nuclear issue, the Taiwan issue and Military Maritime Consultative Agreement, we believed that the two sides share common interests on many important international issues."

    On the Taiwan issue, he stressed that to safeguard the peace ofthe Taiwan Straits is in the interests of the two sides.

    Feith reiterated that the United States adheres to the one-China policy and opposes any unilateral actions to change the status quo of Taiwan. Enditem

Military leaders to set forth position on Taiwan in talks with US: FM

   During the ongoing sixth China-US defense consultations, the two sides will exchange views in depth on their military relations and Chinese military leaders will expound on China's stance on the Taiwan issue, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue in Beijing on Feb 10.

    Zhang said at a regular press conference that the two-day sixthround of consultations on defense at the vice-defense ministerial level between China and the United States started here Tuesday morning.

    She said the Chinese side is headed by Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, and the US side by Douglas Jay Feith, undersecretary of defense for policy.

    Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan, who is also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a state councilor,and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, will meet separately with Feith,the spokeswoman added.

    The annual consultations between the defense departments of thetwo countries began in 1997. The previous consultations have been held in Washington and Beijing alternately. The fifth round was held in December 2002 in Washington. Enditem

China, US hold consultations on defense

    Senior Chinese and US military officials began their sixth round of consultations on defense at vice defense ministerial level in Beijing on Feb 10 morning.

    The Chinese side is headed by Xiong Guangkai, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army; and the US side, by Douglas Jay Feith, undersecretary of defense for policy.

    The annual consultations between the defense departments of the two countries began in 1997, after Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President Bill Clinton reached agreement on the consultations during Jiang's visit to the United States. The previous consultations have been held in Washington and Beijing alternately.The fifth round was held in December 2002 in Washington.