BEIJING, Jan. 13 (Xinhua) -- Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command
Timothy Keating arrived here Sunday afternoon, starting his second China visit
since taking office last March.
During his stay in Beijing, Keating will meet with senior Chinese army and
government officials, including Guo Boxiong, vice chairman of the Central
Military Commission, and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
The two sides were expected to conduct wide exchange of views on Sino-U.S.
military ties, the Taiwan issue, and international and regional issues of common
concern.
The four-day visit will also take Keating to the country's financial hub of
Shanghai and Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, where
Keating is scheduled to meet with officials from Guangzhou Military Area Command
and visit military institutions and units.
Keating took the helm of the U.S. forces in the Pacific in lateMarch last
year, replacing William Fallon.
The Chinese Ministry of National Defense said earlier that China takes
positive attitude towards developing military relations with the United States,
and hopes Keating's visit could further cement the Sino-U.S. military ties
during 2008.
Keating paid his first visit to China last May.
The U.S. Pacific Command was established as a unified command on Jan. 1,
1947, and it is the oldest and largest of the United States' unified commands.