May 30 — At the Shangri‑La Dialogue plenary, U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth said
he hopes to expand dialogue with Chinese defense authorities and strengthen
operational‑level military communications. He referenced a trip to China two
weeks ago with President Trump, saying he witnessed hours‑long candid talks
between the two leaders and called the encounter historically significant.
Hegseth said the leaders have set a framework for bilateral relations, stressed
the importance of high‑level engagement, and said U.S.-China can pursue mutually
beneficial cooperation where interests align. He added that mutual respect,
reflected in military‑to‑military ties, is important for regional and global
security.
