By Liu Yang
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9 (ChinaMil) -- The US Secretary of Defense James Mattis said on Tuesday that he looked forward to hosting General Wei Fenghe, Chinese Minister of National Defense, in America this year and hoped the two sides could go further with the talks conducted in Beijing.
“We look forward to hosting him. I personally look forward to hosting my counterpart from Beijing,” said Mattis at a temporary press conference in that day. He also expressed the two sides had very good discussions recently in Beijing, adding that “I look forward to continuing those.”
US Secretary of Defense James Mattis visited China from June 26 to 28 in 2018. Senior Colonel Wu Qian, Spokesman for China's Ministry of National Defense, said that both sides had in-depth exchange of views on various topics of mutual interest, including international and regional situations, bilateral relations between the countries and the two militaries, as well as issues about Korean Peninsula, Taiwan, and maritime security. Important consensuses were reached on strengthening exchanges between the two militaries at all levels, enhancing mutual trust with regard to military affairs, deepening practical cooperation, managing risks and challenges, and so forth. The visit was fruitful and constructive.
Wu Qian added that during Mattis' visit to China, he extended an official invitation to his Chinese counterpart General Wei Fenghe to visit the US later this year and General Wei gladly accepted the invitation.
