On October 1, 2014, Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel of the United States (US) at the Pentagon.
Wang Yi praised Hagel's constructive efforts to promote the development of the relations between the two countries and the two armies. Wang Yi pointed out that the new-type relationship between the two armies of China and the US is an indispensable part of the new model of major-country relationship between China and the US. Building mutual trust between the two armies is very important for China and the US to establish strategic mutual trust and curb mutual suspicion. The two sides should make joint efforts, striving to make the relations between the two armies the stabilizer of the bilateral relations. The two sides should speed up consultations to establish the mechanism of mutual notification on major military actions and draw up the code of conduct on air and sea military security on the high seas as soon as possible. China opposes all forms of terrorism, and is willing to work with the US to jointly deal with the threat of terrorism. The two sides should strive to realize positive interaction and cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region. China respects the traditional influence and current interests of the US in the Asia-Pacific region, and supports the US in playing a constructive role in the Asia-Pacific affairs. Meanwhile, the US should respect China's status and influence, reasonable development space as well as legitimate rights and interests in the region. China hopes that the US properly handles the issues such as arms sales to Taiwan and the US warships and airplanes' close reconnaissance of China, which impede further development of the bilateral relations.
Hagel extended his congratulations on the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. He said that the US and China are partners rather than rivals, and the common interests of the two countries far outweigh the divergences. The US-China relations must move forward in the right direction in the 21st century, and the two countries should make joint efforts to safeguard peace, security and stability of the world, which is the common expectation of the two peoples and the world's people at large. The relations between the two armies should function as a bridge between the two countries. The two sides should strengthen communication and exchanges and enhance mutual trust, promote the consultation between the two armies on the confidence-building measures for an early consensus, and strengthen the bilateral cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region.