Chinese defense minister visits US

SAN FRANCISCO - Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie arrived here Friday for an official visit that will include meetings with government and military leaders of the United States.

In a written speech upon his arrival at the airport, Liang said that China-US relations have been moving forward after experiencing ups and downs in the past 40 years.

History has proved that China and the United States are partners of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation rather than competitors, he said.

Under the current complicated international situation, China and the United States share vast common interests, and their relations have great development potential, he noted.

Liang said his visit aims to implement the consensus Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President Barack Obama reached on building a cooperative partnership of mutual respect and benefit, and push forward the development of bilateral and military ties in a healthy and stable way.

Before wrapping up his visit on May 10, Liang will meet US state and military leaders, and hold a joint press conference with his US counterpart Leon Panetta after talks, the Chinese Defense Ministry announced earlier.

Besides, Liang will tour the US Southern Command, Fort Benning of the US Army, Naval Base San Diego, the 4th Fighter Wing of US Air Force, II Marine Expeditionary Force of US Marine Corps and US Military Academy at West Point, according to the Chinese Defense Ministry.