Article Posted on : - May 03, 2012

WASHINGTON (PTI): Chinese Defence Minister Gen Liang Guanglie will visit the United States later this week to hold talks with Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and visit various bases, the Pentagon has said.

"We are pleased with the progress made in continuing efforts to build a healthy, stable, and reliable military-to-military relationship, which is an essential part of President Obama's and President Hu's shared vision for a positive, cooperative, and comprehensive US-China relationship," the Pentagon said in a statement.

Liang Guanglie's visit to the US is from May 4 to 10.

In addition to meeting with Panetta at the Pentagon, on May 7, General Liang and his delegation will visit US military bases on both the East and West coasts, specifically, Naval Base San Diego; meet with US Southern Command, Miami in Florida; Camp Lejeune in North Carolina; Ft Benning in Georgia; the US Military Academy at West Point in New York; and Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.

The Chinese minister's visit is slated immediately after the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue being held in Beijing this week.