Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said on Thursday that China is following a national defense policy that is defensive in nature and its development of military capability is moderate and reasonable.

"China firmly takes the road of peaceful development and follows a national defense policy that is defensive in nature. China's military capability development is moderate and reasonable," Qin said at a regular press conference.

Qin was responding to a journalist's request to comment on the remarks by a U.S. congressman saying the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) may pose a threat to the U.S. armed forces.

Qin said China's development of national defense capability aimed at safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as world and regional peace and stability and promoting common development.

China's defense budget for 2007 is expected to hit 350.92 billion yuan (44.94 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for 7.5 percent of the nation's budgeted fiscal expenditure.

Qin said the United States had repeatedly expressed its hope to strengthen dialogue and exchanges between the two armed forces and the Chinese side was positive on this.

"We hope such dialogues and exchanges will be expressed as achievements in the remarks of the U.S. side," said Qin.

Source: Xinhua