Timothy Keating, US Pacific Command commander-in-chief, will visit China from Jan. 13 to 16, the Chinese Ministry of National Defense (MND) said on Tuesday.

During Keating's China stay, senior Chinese generals and officials from the Central Military Commission, the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), Guangzhou Military Area Command and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will meet him separately, the foreign affairs office of the MND said in a press release.

The Chinese officials were expected to widely exchange views with Keating on Sino-U.S. military ties, the Taiwan issue, and international and regional affairs of common concern, according to the press release.

The four-day tour would also take Keating to the country's financial hub of Shanghai, and Guangzhou, capital of the southern Guangdong Province. There, he was scheduled to visit the PLA military institutions and bases and hold a seminar with Chinese military officials.

"China takes positive attitude toward developing military relations with the United States, and hopes Keating's visit could further enhance understanding, expand consensus and boost cooperation, so as to promote the bilateral military ties to grow steadily in the new year," the release said.

The MND was consulting with the U.S. side on detailing arrangements of the visit.

Keating was visiting China for the second time since being appointed to the post in March. He was last in Beijing in May.

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2008)