Visiting Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan on Tuesday met with US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld at the Pentagon for talks on international and regional security, military-to-military ties and other issues of common concern.

Cao, also vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission and a state councilor, and Rumsfeld agreed that their talks were positive, constructive and fruitful.

Cao said China and the United States, both as large and influential countries in the world, have broad common interest and basis for cooperation on important international and regional security issues.

He said that the development of a healthy and stable relationship serves the fundamental interests of the two countries.

Cao said military-to-military ties are an essential part of the Sino-US relations and a healthy and stable relationship between the two militaries is in the interest of both sides.

China is glad to see that the military relations are restoring and developing thanks to the support of the leaders of the two countries and the efforts by the defense departments of the two sides, Cao said.

Cao noted that the Taiwan issue is the most important and sensitive core issue in the Sino-US relations.

He expressed hope that the United States adheres to the principles of the three joint communiqués and its commitment to opposing "Taiwan independence", and handles the Taiwan issue properly, including the arms sale.

Particularly, Cao pointed out, the United States should not sell advanced arms to Taiwan, nor should it conduct any military exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan.

In his remarks, Rumsfeld spoke highly of the momentum in the development of the relations between the two countries and the two militaries, adding that China is an important country and the development of bilateral relations in various fields are beneficial to both sides.

Rumsfeld said the bilateral relations met with some difficulties at the beginning of the Bush administration. But the relations have returned to normal two years later and the military-to-military exchanges have increased recently.

On the issue of Taiwan, Rumsfeld said the US government abides by the "One China" policy and a peaceful solution on the issue.

Cao arrived here Monday for the first high-level visit by a Chinese defense minister since 1996.

(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2003)