Chinese defense minister meets US counterpart in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR -- Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun met with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Friday on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Dong said that President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump had held a successful meeting in South Korea, which provided strategic guidance for the steady development of the next stage of China-US relations.

He noted that the defense departments of both countries should take concrete actions to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and work toward building a military-to-military relationship based on equality and respect, peaceful coexistence, and stable, positive development.

He also expressed hope that the US side will honor its commitment not to seek to contain China and pursue conflict, take a clear stance against "Taiwan independence," and work with China to inject positive energy into regional and global peace and security.