China invites US to solve issues together

China has invited the United States to work together and play a constructive role in solving issues regarding the Korean Peninsula and maintaining peace and security in the region, while emphasizing military action cannot be an option.

Fan Changlong, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, met with Marine Corps General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, in Beijing on Thursday morning.

Fan said President Xi Jinping and US counterpart Donald Trump have maintained close contact and agreed on many important consensus since their meetings at the Mar-a-Lago and G20 Hamburg summit.

The two leaders highly value military-to-military relations, and hope it can become a factor of stability in the overall Sino-US ties, Fan said. In recent years, relations between the two militaries have seen healthy development, with friendly exchanges between top officials and various other communication mechanisms operating smoothly on all levels. 

However, US's "wrongful actions" such as meddling in Taiwan, establishing Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) around China, spying closely on Chinese sea and air territory, and constant activities by US planes and ships in the South China Sea, have had a negative effect on mutual trust and military-to-military ties, said Fan.

China wishes to work with US to fulfill the consensus reached by the leaders, further tap into potential for cooperation, settle differences and sensitive issues in an appropriate manner, and let cooperation between the two militaries inject positive energy into overall Sino-US relation, he added.

Fan also emphasized that China resolutely believe that dialogue is the only effective measure to solving issues regarding the Korean Peninsula, and military action cannot be an option. Related parties should remain restrained, and avoid actions or words that can intensify the situation, he said.

Dunford thanked the Chinese navy for helping with the rescue of an overboard US sailor. He said deepening communication and cooperation is a common aspiration for both countries.

The US is willing to work with China to fulfill the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, and take a "candid and professional" attitude in developing practical cooperation and exchanges on various fields in the military.

The two militaries should also develop closer communication mechanism, increase mutual trust, reduce miscalculation and friction, manage risks, and push for stable relation development of, he added.