China, U.S. to have military hot line

BEIJING, Nov. 5 (UPI) -- China, marking the visit of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Monday announced agreement on a military hotline between the two countries.

The announcement in Beijing was jointly made by Gates and Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan, Xinhua news agency reported.

The report said the hotline is the first China has set up with another country at the defense ministry level. The outcome is the result of talks the two countries have been having since the April 2006 meeting between Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President George W. Bush.

The new facility is designed to enhance mutual trust and promote relations between the military organizations of the two countries, a Chinese analyst was quoted as saying.

"The military-to-military relations between China and the United States has grown in recent years. China is willing to join hands with the United States, properly handle disputes and friction, and make a sound and stable development of the military relations," Cao said.

Gates was quoted as saying the two armed forces have maintained an active momentum in the development of military relations.