Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie and the visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates held talks Monday morning in Beijing.

The visit of Gates, who arrived in the Chinese capital Sunday evening, is expected to provide an opportunity for the two countries to improve military ties, which suffered some frictions over the past year.

This is Gates' second China tour since he took office in December 2006.His visit was postponed after the Pentagon's decision to sell a nearly $6.4-billion arms package to Taiwan in January 2010.

Before the talks at the headquarters of China's Central Military Commission, a welcoming ceremony was held for Gates.

(Xinhua News Agency January 10, 2011)