CHINA: U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates meets Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie

Record ID: 574654

  • Title: CHINA: U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates meets Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie
  • Date: 11th January 2011
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (JANUARY 10, 2011) (REUTERS) SOLDIERS LINED UP FOR WELCOME CEREMONY SOLDIERS U.S. DEFENCE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES ARRIVING SOLDIERS WATCHING GATE'S ARRIVAL GATES SHAKING HANDS WITH OFFICIALS SOLDIER SALUTING AND U.S. NATIONAL ANTHEM BEING PLAYED VARIOUS OF GATES AND CHINESE DEFENCE MINISTER LIANG GUANGLIE STANDING AT ATTENTION OFFICIALS SALUTING MORE OF GATES AND LIANG STANDING AT ATTENTION U.S. FLAG CHINESE SOLDIER GIVING COMMAND VARIOUS OF GATES AND LIANG INSPECTING SOLDIERS GATES AND LIANG STANDING AT PODIUM VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS MARCHING MORE OF GATES AND LIANG BEIJING, CHINA (JANUARY 10, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF GATES AND LIANG WALKING INTO ROOM FOR MEETING LIANG SPEAKING VARIOUS OF MEETING IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENCE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES SAYING: "I have always believed, in whatever role I came here, that cooperation and collaboration and dialogue between the United States and China on security issues was in the mutual interests of both countries." CHINESE OFFICIALS (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENCE SECRETARY ROBERT GATES SAYING: "Our two presidents, President Hu and President Obama, clearly believed that more robust military to military relationship is important, for now, I will do everything in my power that we carry out their objectives." MEETING IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 26th January 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVADNEUZJUIZ1MWE4ZU78C3663VP
  • Story Text: United States Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie met in Beijing on Monday (January 10) for talks that the U.S. side hopes will ease security strains with Beijing ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's official visit to the United States this month.
    "I have always believed, in whatever role I came here, that cooperation and collaboration and dialogue between the United States and China on security issues was in the mutual interests of both countries," Gates told Liang after the two attended a welcome ceremony for Gates.
    U.S. officials hope Gates' visit will forge progress on sticky security issues that have raised worries that Beijing, with its growing economic and military strength, is increasingly willing to defy U.S. objectives.
    Those include a U.S. push for Beijing to take a more assertive stand on Iran's nuclear programme, to do more to rein in North Korea and to become less secretive about the modernisation of the People's Liberation Army (PLA).
    The meeting is expected to provide an opportunity for the two countries to improve military ties.
    "Our two presidents, President Hu and President Obama, clearly believed that a more robust military to military relationship is important, for now, I will do everything in my power that we carry out their objectives," he said.
    U.S. and Chinese military ties were curtailed for much of 2010 after Beijing protested Obama's proposed arms sale to Taiwan, the self-ruled island China deems an illegitimate breakaway.
    Gate's visit is the most visible demonstration that relations have steadied, although security distrust remains deep.
    His trip to China comes a week ahead of Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to the United States for a Jan. 19 summit with President Barack Obama, when the two leaders are likely to discuss North Korea and other regional tensions.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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