A senior U.S. military commander has announced that the United States and China have agreed to resume routine military contacts and high-level visits by defense officials, and that he expects the process to begin within the next two months.
美国军方一名高级官员表示，美中两国已同意重续日常的军事接触和国防部高层官员的互访。他还预计有关进程将在今后两个月内开始。
The commander of U.S. forces in Asia, Admiral Timothy Keating, told reporters the agreement was reached during the two-day U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue that ended Tuesday here in Washington.
驻亚洲美军的总指挥基廷上将告诉记者，在为期两天的美中战略与经济对话中达成了有关协议，这次对话星期二已在华盛顿结束。
"There was clear agreement on the need and the desire to resume those talks," he said. "There are several high-level military visits - from Beijing to Washington, Washington to Beijing - that are in their final stages of planning. I can't go into, I'd rather not go into the specifics as to when or who. But I can assure you they're in the very final stages of planning."
基廷说：“对话双方显然一致认同恢复那些会谈的意愿和必要性。从华盛顿到北京和从北京到华盛顿的军方高层官员的几次互访，目前进入最后筹划阶段。我不能作详细说明，我最好不要具体说明什么时间和哪些人。但是我可以向你保证，这些互访的安排进入了最后筹划阶段。”
Admiral Keating said the renewed U.S.-China military talks will be highlighted by a meeting under the Military Maritime Consultative Agreement between the two countries. For two days this week, the admiral participated in the U.S.-China Dialogue, which was led by officials from the U.S. Departments of State and Treasury, and their Chinese counterparts. Keating also met with a rear admiral representing China's defense forces.
基廷上将说，重续美中军事会谈的重点安排将是一次根据两国间军事海上咨商协议的会议。本周有两天时间基廷上将参加了美中对话。这次对话是由美国国务院和财政部官员以及他们的中国同行主导的。基廷还会见了代表中国国防部队的一名海军少将。
China suspended routine military contacts and high-level defense visits with the United States last October, after the announcement of a U.S. arms sale to Taiwan. Since then, there have been several incidents at sea, in which Chinese boats have harassed U.S. ships in international waters near the Chinese coast. In addition, China denied entry to Hong Kong to several U.S. Navy ships, including two that were low on fuel during a storm.
Last month, a senior Defense Department policy official visited Beijing to begin the process of mending military relations.
上个月，美国国防部一名高级决策人员访问北京，开始修补两国间的军事关系。
And Admiral Keating indicated that during Monday's Strategic and Economic Dialogue meeting, there was a considerably warmer atmosphere than had existed at the time of the maritime incidents a few months ago.
海军上将基廷表示，在星期一的美中战略与经济对话会议上，气氛比几个月前发生海事纠纷时期要好得多。
"A statement was made by a Chinese delegation official yesterday [Monday] that no country can develop sound policy if they try and do so in isolation," he said. "And I think that's a great way of addressing the sense all of us feel, the desire, to get back together again and discuss exercises, discuss personnel exchanges, discuss responses to humanitarian assistance crises and the provision of disaster relief."
基廷说：“中国代表团一名官员星期一发表了一份声明说，任何国家在孤立的情况下无法制定出完善的策略。我认为这很好地表达了我们的共同感受，就是都希望重新聚首，讨论军事演习、人员互访、和对人道危机作出反应并提供救灾援助的事项。”
The admiral said both the Chinese and U.S. presidents are committed to renewing bi-lateral military ties and that officials are working on the final details of how to do that as soon as possible.
基廷上将说，中美两国领导人都致力于恢复双边军事来往，而两国官员正在努力落实如何尽快做到这一点的最后细节问题。 |