China's Ministry of National Defense has expressed readiness to strengthen trust with Washington following last week's meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. This was reported by Bloomberg, according to UNN.
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Ministry spokesperson Senior Colonel Jiang Bin noted at a briefing on Monday that stable military relations serve the common interests of both countries. According to him, Beijing is ready to work with the U.S. to intensify dialogue, "manage differences, enhance trust, and clarify misunderstandings."
During Trump's visit, Xi Jinping announced the beginning of a new era in bilateral relations, which the Chinese side termed "constructive strategic stability."
Trump's delegation last week included Pete Hegseth—the first sitting U.S. Secretary of Defense to visit China since 2018. During a state banquet on Thursday, he spoke briefly with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun through an interpreter.
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Last October, Hegseth had already held a meeting with Dong Jun—their first face-to-face conversation since Trump's return to the White House.
It is expected that the defense chiefs may meet again at the Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore at the end of the month. Last year, China did not send a high-level delegation, and Dong Jun's participation this year has not yet been confirmed.
At the same time, tensions persist between the countries over a range of issues, primarily Taiwan and the South China Sea. During the visit, Xi Jinping delivered one of his sternest warnings to Trump regarding Taiwan, stating that a failure to resolve the issue could lead to an "extremely dangerous situation."
The U.S. Secretary of Defense is urging allies in the Indo-Pacific region to increase defense spending and counter China's growing influence. In response, Beijing regularly criticizes Washington for its "hegemonic approaches."
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