US Defence Secretary may visit China by 2020 end

Mark Esper has said that he may visit China for the first time as a secretary in order to enhance cooperation on areas of common interest, establish the systems necessary for crisis communications and reinforce Washington's intentions to openly compete in the international system.

Washington: Amid rising tensions between China and the US, Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he hopes to visit Beijing by the end of 2020 to establish the systems necessary for crisis communications.

This would be Esper's first visit to China as a Secretary.

"I personally spoke to my PRC counterpart on multiple occasions. Before the year is out, I hope to visit the PRC for the first time as a secretary in order to enhance cooperation on areas of common interest, establish the systems necessary for crisis communications and reinforce our intentions to openly compete in the international system," Esper said at a special presentation for the International Institute for Strategic Studies.