US, China hold security, diplomatic dialogue

United States Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Director of the Office of Foreign Affairs of the Central Commission of the Communist Party of China Yang Jiechi and State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe for the second US-China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue.

The US Department of State, in a statement, stated that the US and China had candid and in-depth conversations about key diplomatic and security issues. They even reaffirmed that the US-China Diplomatic and Security Dialogue could be a constructive platform that produces meaningful results.

The US also highlighted President Donald Trump's vision for a constructive, results-oriented relationship between the two countries based on fairness and reciprocity. Both the countries also committed to coordinate on resolving differences and cooperate on common goals

Further discussing the military co-operation, the two countries recognised that the military-to-military relationship between the US and China could be a stabilising factor for the overall bilateral relationship, and committed to a productive mil-mil relationship.

The two sides also decided to deepen engagement to advance their shared commitment to the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery.

The issue of denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and to bring back normalcy in Afghanistan were also discussed during the meeting. The two sides committed to support peace and stability in the South China Sea, the peaceful resolution of disputes, and freedom of navigation and overflight and other lawful uses of the sea in accordance with international law.