US defence secretary begins visit to China

The American Defence Secretary, William Cohen, has begun a three-day visit to China intended to improve military co-operation and to press the Chinese leadership to limit its arms trade with the Middle East.

He'll have talks with the Chinese defence minister, Chi Haotian, and President Jiang Zemin.

The visit will conclude agreements on exchanges of military personnel and on preventing confrontations at sea.

Mr Cohen will also tour an underground air defence centre -- something he described as a breakthrough in openness for the Chinese military.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service