Question: It is reported that Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun had a video call with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin recently. Please tell us more details. What expectations does the Chinese side have for the development of China-US military-to-military relationship in the future?
Wu Qian: Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun had a video call with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the evening of April 16. The two sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on China-US state-to-state and military-to-military relations, the Taiwan question, the South China Sea issue and other international hotspot issues of common interest, and achieved positive and practical outcomes. This call is an important step by the two militaries in implementing the consensus reached by the two heads of state and bears positive significance in maintaining the overall stability of bilateral military ties.
Since the end of last year, the two militaries have conducted a series of exchanges and cooperation, which plays a positive role in stabilizing and improving the relationship. We hope the US side will work with us in the same direction, value peace, stability and trust as the basic principles of exchanges, and, on the basis of equality and respect, build a military-to-military relationship featuring no conflict, no confrontation, open and pragmatic cooperation and gradual accumulation of mutual trust, so as to truly serve as a stabilizer of bilateral relations.