March 03, 2020
Release

Readout of Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper's Telephone Call with the People's Republic of China's Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe

Pentagon Press Secretary Alyssa Farah provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper spoke by phone with the People's Republic of China Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe on March 3, 2020. Secretary Esper used the call to advance a constructive, stable, and results-oriented defense relationship between the United States and China.

Dr. Esper shared with Minister Wei recent developments towards achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan and the importance of the United States and China continuing cooperation and dialogue to advance shared interests of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Secretary Esper conveyed the United States' ongoing concern over the global impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) and reaffirmed the United States' offer to continue to assist China and the region with support for COVID-19 prevention and control.

On U.S.-China defense relations, Secretary Esper underscored the importance of maintaining open channels of communication and continuing constructive dialogue responsive to evolving global conditions.

https://www.defense.gov/Newsroom/Releases/Release/Article/2101487/