China, US open defense talks
1 February 2005
China and the United States opened two days of defense talks in Beijing, with Taiwan and North Korea likely to top the agenda. Diplomatic sources quoted by Reuters said the Chinese side had proposed holding working level talks with North Korea to pave the way for renewed six-party talks, which have been stalled since June. Xinhua news agency referred to the talks as the "first-ever special policy dialogue" between the Chinese and U.S. defense ministries.