U.S. would like to improve military cooperation with China.

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe agreed with the United States Secretary of Defense James Mattis Thursday October 18, 2018, to control risks and deepen mutual trust so as to make the relations between the two military forces a stabilizer for the China-U.S. relationship.

Defense Secretary James N. Mattis meets with Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Wei Fenghe at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defense ministers’ meeting in Singapore, Oct. 18, 2018. (Picture source U.S. DoD)

James Mattis is attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers Meeting in Singapore as a way to improve cooperation. The association - made up of Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, the Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar and Singapore - seeks to spur economic growth in the area through the rule of law.

The U.S. Secretary of Defense also held individual meetings with China's Minister of National Defense Gen. Wei Fenghe where Mattis once again made it clear the United States plans to work with China where possible and is looking for ways to cooperate more. He also made it clear the United States will continue freedom of navigation operations in spite of China building artificial islands and arming those facilities.

According to the Chinese official, promoting cooperation for win-win development is the only choice for a lasting relationship between Beijing and Washington, enhancing mutual trust is the best cohesive force for strengthening the exchanges of the two armies, and respect and toleration are the rightful means of addressing differences and problems.

Wei Fenghe noted that China stands firm on principles guiding issues of Taiwan and the South China Sea, and that the Chinese military take unswerving stance on safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development.

The U.S. side is devoted to promoting the relations between the U.S. and Chinese armed forces, and hopes to further enhance exchanges between the two militaries at all levels, and take good advantage of the mutual trust and cooperation mechanism, so as to push the relations between the two military forces ahead on a right track.