Chinese Defense Minister Calls on US to Maintain Interaction

Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe met with his US counterpart Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting with Dialogue Partners in Cambodia.

"During the talks, the two sides recognized that the armed forces of the two countries should implement the important consensus reached by the heads of the two countries in good faith, maintain interaction and communication, strengthen crisis management and control, and make efforts to safeguard regional security and stability," the Chinese Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Mr. Wei Fenghe noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden held talks at the G20 Leaders' Summit in Bali, during which they reached a number of important consensuses that will guide China-US relations.

"We hope the US will keep its word and be faithful to its promises, truly implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, pursue a rational and pragmatic policy toward China, and help bring China-US relations back onto the track of sustainable and healthy development," Wei Fenghe was quoted as saying by China's Ministry of National Defense.

The news noted that the sides also exchanged views on the international and regional situation, discussed the crisis in Ukraine, the East Sea issue and the Korean peninsula.

“The responsibility for the current situation in China-US relations lies with the United States, not China,” Wei Fenghe said. At the same time, he noted that “China attaches great importance to the development of relations between the two countries and the armed forces of the two countries, but the United States must respect China’s most important interests.”

"The Taiwan issue is the most important issue among China's fundamental interests and the first red line in China-US relations that cannot be crossed," - the Chinese Ministry of Defense quoted Wei Fenghe./.