Kuala lumpur: Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on Friday emphasized the importance of building trust with the United States and praised the recent meeting between the US and Chinese presidents. Minister Dong highlighted the success of Thursday's summit between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, noting its role in providing strategic guidance for future relations. This statement was made following a discussion with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the 19th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Minister Dong underscored the need for both US and Chinese defense departments to take tangible steps to implement the consensus reached by their respective leaders. He advocated for a military-to-military relationship characterized by equality, respect, peaceful coexistence, and stable development. Dong also expressed the hope that the US would honor its commitment not to contain China or pursue conflict, oppose "Taiwan independence," and collaborate with China to contribute positively to regional and global peace and security.
The summit between the Chinese and US leaders occurred amid rising tensions in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait, with ongoing military activities by regional powers heightening the situation. The ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting, where these discussions took place, serves as part of the bloc's annual dialogue aimed at enhancing peace and stability in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific region.
The meeting's agenda includes the 12th gathering of the defense ministers of ASEAN Plus, which also involves China, India, the US, New Zealand, South Korea, and Russia. ASEAN, established in 1967, currently comprises Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei, Dar es Salaam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste.