WNAM MONITORING: China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun hosted US lawmakers in a rare event, urging a bipartisan group to help eliminate “disruptive” factors in bilateral ties, according to an official statement released by Beijing.
Dong met the US House of Representatives, led by Adam Smith, the current top Democrat on the US House Armed Services Committee, as well as Michael Baumgartner, Ro Khanna, and Chrissy Houlahan.
Recalling the phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, Dong said in the Beijing meeting with American lawmakers that the two leaders said they can achieve mutual success and shared prosperity, benefiting both countries and the world.
“It is hoped that the Congress members would eliminate disruptive factors and take constructive and pragmatic measures to contribute positively to improving military relations and promoting mutual progress between China and the US,” Dong said.
The group of US lawmakers reached China on Sunday, the first such trip since 2019.
They met Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the same day when he urged the US Congress to view China and bilateral relations in a “correct way.”
Dong told the US lawmakers that the Chinese military “is willing to build a military relationship with the US based on equality, respect, peaceful coexistence, and stable and positive development, while firmly safeguarding national sovereignty, security, and development interests.”
The meeting comes days after Dong held the first call with US defense chief Pete Hegseth early this month.
“Both sides should ensure smooth military communication channels and take practical actions to promote stable, healthy, and sustainable development of bilateral military relations,” Dong told the visiting US delegation.
The delegation also met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, who is also the top trade negotiator with the US on tariffs.
He expressed hope that US lawmakers would “actively build channels of communication, enhance dialogue and exchanges, and play a constructive role in advancing the development of both nations.”
According to a statement by the US Embassy, the delegation had a “productive dialogue” with Premier Li.
“The delegation emphasized in a united, bipartisan manner the need to recalibrate the bilateral relationship on diplomatic, economic, and security issues,” read the statement.
They emphasized the “need to have more dialogue, at both diplomatic and military levels, between our two countries to find ways to increase cooperation and peacefully address areas of disagreement,” it added.
The issue of fentanyl, nuclear proliferation, and an international framework for the safe and peaceful development and use of artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies were also discussed.
