US defense chief invited to visit China this year

China's Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Fan Changlong has invited US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter for a visit to China this year as part of the efforts to promote bilateral military ties, a Chinese defense spokesman said Friday.

The invitation was extended to Carter at their talks held at the Pentagon Thursday, said Guan Youfei, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of China's National Defense Ministry, at a news briefing on Fan's visit to the United States. This will be Carter's first visit to China since he was appointed the Pentagon chief in February.

During the talks, the two military chiefs exchanged views in a candid and cordial manner on a wide range of issues, such as the military-to-military relationship and issues concerning maritime security, Taiwan, Japan, and the Korean Peninsula.

The main goal of Fan's visit is to create "a positive atmosphere" for the planned state visit to the United States by Chinese President Xi Jinping in September, by boosting mutual trust, deepening cooperation, promoting friendship and accumulating consensus, Guan said.

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