The Longbow Papers

The United State's highest ranking military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers, arrived in Beijing late Tuesday for the highest level military visit to China since the mid-air collision of a US scout plane EP-3 with a Chinese fighter over the South China Sea in 2001.

On Wednesday, Myers is scheduled to meet his Chinese counterpart General Liang Guanglie, Chinese Defence Minister General Cao Gangchuan and Central Military Commission Vice-Chairman General Guo Boxiong, according to US officials.

"General Myers' visit is an important step in a series of US-China military activities, including high-level visits, confidence-building measures and professional exchanges," a written statement released Tuesday by the US embassy to China said.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said Tuesday Myers' visit is a very important one starting off the new year.

"We believe that through this visit we can deepen understanding between the two militaries, expand bilateral consensus and develop bilateral friendship while also promoting the healthy and stable development of Sino-US military relations," Kong said at a regular news conference.

Liang Guanglie (L), chief of General Staff of the PLA talks with U.S. Air Force General Richard Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in Beijing January 14, 2004. During his two-day visit, Myers will meet with Chinese military leaders and government leaders. Mutual military exchanges, security co-operation, and Taiwan question are expected to be touched upon.