United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld yesterday started his first visit to China since taking office five years ago. His trip, coming hot on the heels of the visits to China made by US Treasury Secretary John Snow and Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, is of great symbolic significance and serves as a further sign of improved Sino-US relations.

It also shows the importance US President George W. Bush and his administration place on maintaining broad ties with China.

During his visit, Rumsfeld is expected to meet his Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan and President Hu Jintao to boost exchanges with the Chinese military and to discuss matters of mutual concern. The defence secretary is also expected to make an unprecedented visit to the headquarters of China's strategic missile forces, the Second Artillery Corps.

Given long-standing military concerns expressed by both China and the United States, Rumsfeld's visit is conducive to promoting mutual understanding and enhancing trust. It will help both sides realize their shared goal of further improving bilateral military relations and easing security misgivings.

High-level military exchanges between the countries include Cao's visit to the United States in October 2003 and trips to China made by General Richard Myers, former chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, in 2004 and Admiral William Fallon, commander of the US Pacific Command, in September this year.

But it is an undeniable fact that US military leaders, including Rumsfeld himself, still have profound concerns about China's military development. A controversial Pentagon report in July exaggerated China's military build-up and alleged "threat" the nation poses, while Rumsfeld has described China as being at a strategic crossroad.

These concerns, which reflect Washington's suspicions about Beijing's commitment to peaceful development, partly stem from the lack of mutual trust and a confidence-building mechanism for the two militaries. Only through regular high-level exchanges and in-depth talks between top leaders will both sides deepen understanding.

It is hoped Rumsfeld's visit will offer an opportunity for him to conduct candid exchanges with Chinese military leaders through face-to-face meetings so he may gain a better understanding of the peaceful intentions behind China's military modernization.

Though "Confidence is a plant of slow growth in an aged heart," as British leader William Pitt once said, efforts from both sides to build confidence will always be welcome.

It may be unrealistic to expect breakthroughs in military relations between the two countries during the two-day visit. But as long as both sides adopt a sincere and constructive attitude in their dealings with each other, they will push forward bilateral ties and reduce the risk of miscalculation.

As Rumsfeld's visit is also expected to prepare the ground for a scheduled visit to China by President Bush in November, his trip will surely help advance the Sino-US relationship, which has been pushed forward since full diplomatic ties were restored in 1979.

Both Beijing and Washington have actively sought to establish a stable and co-operative relationship between the two powers, which is critical to both regional and international stability.

(China Daily October 19, 2005)