U.S. Defense Secretary visits PLA academy in Beijing

U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Wednesday visited a military academy in Beijing, stressing that the U.S side is willing to strengthen military-to-military cooperation with China.

While making a speech at the the Armed Forces Engineering Academy of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), Panetta said the relationship between the United States and China, the world's two largest economies, is essential for global security and prosperity in the 21st century.

Elaborating on U.S. Asia-Pacific policy, the secretary said that it is a priority for the U.S. Department of Defense to expand dialogues and exchanges with the Chinese military.

The U.S. rebalance in the Asia-Pacific region is not an attempt to contain China, according to Panetta, who invited the Chinese side to send a ship to participate in the RIMPAC 2014 exercise, the world's largest multilateral naval exercise held every two years off the coast of Hawaii.

China's rise has brought millions of people out of poverty and helped to make a more prosperous world, Panetta said, calling for an enhanced bilateral military-to-military relationship.

Answering questions raised by students, the secretary said the two sides can promote cooperation in counter-terrorism, humanitarian relief, anti-piracy and peacekeeping.

Regarding China-Japan tensions over the Diaoyu Islands, Panetta reiterated that the U.S. side has taken no position on the issue and called for a peaceful resolution.

Panetta arrived in Beijing on Monday evening, kicking off his first China visit as U.S. Defense Secretary. During his stay in Beijing, Panetta conducted a series of talks and meetings with Chinese military officials and state leaders, including Vice President Xi Jinping.

He will also visit a naval facility in east China's city of Qingdao.