*EPF307 10/11/00
Text: Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig Departs for China
(Visit to support U.S.-China military-to-military initiatives) (280)

Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig departed the United States October 10 to begin a one-week visit to China where he will seek to enhance military to military contacts between the United States and China, according to the Department of Defense.

He will also spend one day in Japan to discuss regional issues.

Following is the text:

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No. 180-P
PRESS ADVISORY
October 10, 2000

Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig will depart today for a one-week visit to the People's Republic of China where he will meet with Chinese military leaders in Shanghai, Nanjing, and Beijing. Danzig will also deliver remarks at the Naval Surface Command Academy in Nanjing and Beida University in Beijing.

During his China visit Danzig intends to offer support for military-to-military initiatives spearheaded by Secretary of Defense William Cohen and Commander-in-Chief U.S. Pacific Command Adm. Dennis Blair during their recent July visit to China. These include a broadened dialogue with expanded contacts, exchanges, and visits to promote a greater degree of transparency and enhance regional security.

Danzig hopes to build upon a renewed sense of goodwill and cooperation between the nations' navies fostered most recently by successful reciprocal port visits. Danzig will also make a one-day stop in Japan on the return leg of his trip to consult with U.S. and Japanese government ministry representatives in Tokyo. This will be the first visit by a U.S. Secretary of the Navy to China.

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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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