US lawmakers hold rare talks with Chinese defence minister

“We are the first delegation from the United States House of Representatives since 2019 and we feel strongly that there should be more frequent visits and more robust conversation,” Smith told Dong.

“We want to open up the lines of communication. And in particular around military matters,” Smith said, according to a pool report organised by the US embassy in Beijing.

Dong said the visit marked a “good” phase in efforts to strengthen China-US communications, according to the pool report.

He urged the lawmakers to “eliminate interfering and restrictive factors and adopt constructive and pragmatic measures” to help improve military-to-military relations and bilateral ties, China’s state-run news agency Xinhua reported.

The Chinese military is willing to build stable and positive military ties based on respect and peaceful coexistence, while safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, Dong was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

The trip followed a call on Friday between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping as they seek a way out of strained ties exacerbated by trade tensions, US curbs over semiconductor chips, the ownership of TikTok, Chinese activities in the South China Sea, and matters related to Taiwan.

The leaders agreed to further talks on the sidelines of a forum in South Korea at the end of October. Trump also said he would visit China early next year and that Xi would come to the US at a later date.

Earlier this month, Dong held his first formal call with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, who stressed that the United States does not seek conflict with China.

On Sunday, the US lawmakers were welcomed by Premier Li Qiang, China’s No.2 political leader, at the Great Hall of the People in the heart of Beijing. Li told Smith that the “ice-breaking” trip will further bilateral ties.

The COVID-19 pandemic ended formal House visits in 2020, and relations rapidly unravelled due to intense debate over the origins of the coronavirus that had spread all over the world.