U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2009)

U.S. Department of State

Ian Kelly
Department Spokesman

Daily Press Briefing

Washington, DC
October 27, 2009

1:19 p.m. EDT

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QUESTION: And Chinese General Xu Caihou is here and he met with Secretary Gates this morning. How does State Department evaluate the two very high-level military leaders talk between the U.S. and China?

MR. KELLY: Well, I know that General Xu is going to be -- has a meeting here in the State Department with Deputy Secretary Jim Steinberg. I think that's going to happen this afternoon. And we hope that this visit will help contribute to our-- both our countries' commitment to a mutual and cooperative U.S.-China relationship.

QUESTION: Do you have any comment on the agreement by the Chinese to search for this -- the victims of this bomber crash in 1950?

MR. KELLY: Yeah, I've seen those reports. It's -- we're -- we are extremely appreciative of the assistance of the Chinese Government in helping resolve the cases of U.S. servicemen missing in action. I understand that the Government of China helps -- plans to help us search for remains of any -- the remains of any of the airmen who were in this Air Force bomber crash. But in terms of the specifics of the search, of course, that would be a DOD matter.

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(The briefing was concluded at 1:44 p.m.)