China is developing positive military relations with the United States, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang Tuesday.

Qin said at a regular news conference that the two sides reached a wide-ranging consensus on furthering bilateral military exchanges during U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's visit to China last October.

The two sides worked out a program for bilateral military exchanges for this year, said Qin.

He said the program includes high-level contacts, exchanges between military institutions and visits by military vessels.

Qin said China will develop military ties with the U.S. to build trust, friendship and promote cooperation. Such exchanges will jointly advance the development of bilateral relations in the 21st century, he said.

Source: Xinhua