U.S. envoy confident ahead of defence talks with China

BEIJING (AFX-ASIA) - James Kelly, assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, said he believed China shared the U.S.'s interest in boosting regional and global peace, prior to his talks with Chinese foreign ministry officials over the U.S.'s planned anti-missile defence shield.

	    "China clearly shares with us an interest in promoting peace and stability in East Asia and the world," Kelly said in a prepared statement prior to the talks. 

	    "Curbing the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction is a key element in the maintenance of peace and security."

	    Kelly arrived late yesterday following talks in Singapore, and he is due to hold meetings in Beijing throughout the day before heading for Vietnam.

	    "I welcome the chance to meet with my Chinese counterparts," Kelly said in the statement. "I hope to work very closely with them over the next few years as we seek to build on our shared interest in maintaining a healthy dialogue on issues that divide us."

	    Kelly did not answer any questions from journalists and declined to say if he would also discuss the U.S. spy plane, which has been on Hainan island since a mid-air collision with a Chinese fighter jet on April 1.

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