The United States will host a top general from China's armed forces later this month, a visit meant to improve relations between the two countries' militaries, Reuters quoted the Pentagon as saying today. Xu Caihou, Vice-chairman of the People's Liberation Army Central Military Commission, is China's second-highest ranking military officer and will visit the United States between Oct. 24-31. "There are a number of high-level meetings scheduled with General Xu and other senior U.S. officials," Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said, adding U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates would host Xu at a dinner. Morrell said the visit followed Gates' trip to China some two years ago and was part of an effort to improve "trust and transparency" between the two militaries. "There is huge value in fostering better military-to-military relations between our two countries," he said.
