China has an open mind toward developing its military ties with the United States, a Chinese defense spokesman said on Thursday.

Zhang Xiaogang, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks at a news conference in Beijing, in response to a question about whether the Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun will hold a meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus in Malaysia.

“We hope the US will meet China halfway and work together to build a military-to-military relationship featuring equality and respect, peaceful coexistence, and stable, positive development,” he said.

At the news briefing, the spokesman announced the Chinese defense chief will attend the 12th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus and the 15th China-ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Informal Meeting from Thursday to Sunday in Kuala Lumpur.

According to local Malaysian media, Malay Mail, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrived in the Southeast Asian country — the first stop in his four-nation Asia tour — on Wednesday to attend the ADMM-Plus.