US Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld will visit China next month, Admiral William J. Fallon, commander of US Pacific Command, said in Beijing Wednesday.

It would be Rumsfeld's first visit to China since assuming office in 2001, but the specific timing and schedule has not been decided yet, Fallon said.

Fallon is visiting China for the first time since taking over as Pacific commander in February.

He held talks with Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing yesterday afternoon before heading to Shanghai and South China's Guangdong Province.

Rumsfeld's visit is expected to add momentum to the increased diplomatic exchanges between China and the United States.

President Hu Jintao and his US counterpart George W. Bush are scheduled to meet in New York next week during the United Nations 60th anniversary summit.

Their meeting will cover a wide range of topics including the Six-Party Talks, trade, anti-terrorism efforts, energy, human rights and UN reform.

The two heads of state agreed last Saturday during a phone conversation to postpone Hu's official visit to Washington because of Hurricane Katrina.

According to Fallon, Bush will visit China following Rumsfeld's trip.

Fallon hoped that not only the top leaders but also people at various levels could get to know each other well through increased exchanges. "It will be helpful in reducing the tension," he said.

Asked if he views China as a threat, Fallon raised a half-empty glass and said that people have a tendency to always look at things one of two ways - it is either half-full or half-empty.

"I choose to take the positive, optimistic view that we can make almost anything we want of relationships," he said.

Source: China Daily