China, US officials discuss defense ties (3)

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Hagel hailed Chang's US trip as "very productive" and accepted Chang's invitation to visit China next year. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, also offered to host his Chinese counterpart, Fang Fenghui, next year.

Meanwhile, Chang announced the Chinese navy would join the RIM of the Pacific joint maritime exercise for the first time next year at the invitation of the US.

During the Pentagon meeting, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in non-traditional security fields, including humanitarian aid.

The Chinese defense minister elaborated more on the non-traditional security issue during the talk in Brunei.

China and the US should explore pragmatic cooperation in areas such as disaster relief, anti-terrorism and peacekeeping, and "they are expected to improve the region's capability of handling non-traditional security threats", Chang said.

The two powers have a record of cooperation in this field.

On Sunday, the navies of China and the United States conducted their second joint counter-piracy exercise in the Gulf of Aden. In September 2012, China and the US conducted their first joint anti-piracy drill, which lasted for five hours, also in the Gulf of Aden.

Zhao Yanrong in Beijing and Xinhua contributed to this story.

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