U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, right, meets in the Pentagon with People’s Republic of China State Councilor Yang Jiechi, second from left, on October 20.

In a statement summarizing the meeting, Pentagon press secretary Navy Rear Admiral John Kirby said the two discussed the importance of maintaining the positive momentum that has developed in the military-to-military relationship between the United States and China.

“They also reaffirmed their shared interest in strengthening cooperation on regional and global challenges,” Kirby said, “and noted the potential for greater cooperation in several areas, [including] providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief when crises arise and containing the spread of Ebola in West Africa.”

Hagel and Yang both highlighted the importance of President Obama’s trip to Beijing in November and expressed a shared desire that the trip be a success, Kirby said.