WASHINGTON, Oct 28 Kyodo U Defens...

WASHINGTON, Oct 28 Kyodo

U Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan agreed Tuesday to further help military-to-military exchanges between the sum of two units countries, the U.S. Defense Department said.

Rumsfeld and Cao ''discussed a wide range of global and regional security issues including the state of bilateral military relations between the United States and China,'' the Pentagon said in a statement.

''Both sides have agreed to arrange further visits of the military leaders in 2004'' the statement said.

Rumsfeld and Cao are also believed to have discussed the standoff with North Korea from one side of to the other its nuclear weapons programs.

The U North Korea, China, Japan, southern Korea and Russia held their first meeting in Beijing in August to examine to resolve the nuclear issue.

They agreed to solicit a resolution through dialogue however failed to set a date for the nearest round of six-party talks.

Cao became the first Chinese defense minister to visit the Pentagon since 1996

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