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Sunday, November 07, 2004
Defense chief flies to China (3:30 p.m.)
MANILA -- Defense Secretary Avelino Cruz Jr. left for Beijing Sunday for talks with his Chinese counterpart on a proposed annual security dialogue between the two countries and efforts to strengthen cooperation in dealing with terrorism and disasters, officials said.
Cruz will discuss with China's Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan the idea of an annual dialogue to explore ways of bolstering security ties during his weeklong visit to China, a defense department statement said. He will also call on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
President Arroyo and Chinese President Hu Jintao agreed to work for closer defense cooperation when she visited China in August.
Cruz will also discuss ways to intensify exchanges of military and defense personnel and greater cooperation in dealing with terrorism and relief and rescue work during major disasters, defense spokesman Ros Manlangit said.
The two countries have also been discussing confidence-building steps to ease a dispute over the Spratlys, a South China Sea chain of islands teeming with fish and believed to be rich in oil and natural gas which is also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam. (AP)
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