Rumsfeld to visit China next month

BEIJING, Sept. 8 (UPI) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld will visit China next month, the visiting head of the U.S. Pacific Command said in Beijing.

Adm. William J. Fallon made the announcement after meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing Wednesday, Xinhua reported Thursday. He said Rumsfeld would meet with China's defense minister as part of a U.S. effort to ease tensions and expand military ties with China.

Rumsfeld broke off military contacts with China in 2001 following a midair collision between a U.S. Navy plane and a Chinese fighter. China blamed the United States for the incident and detained the crew for 11 days.

Following his Beijing stop, Fallon headed for Shanghai and the southern province of Guangdong for talks with People's Liberation Army officers.

Xinhua also quoted the admiral as saying President Bush would visit China after the Rumsfeld trip.

A planned visit to the United States by Chinese President Hu Jintao this week was postponed because of Hurricane Katrina. Hu and Bush are scheduled to meet in New York next week during the United Nations 60th anniversary summit, however.