Xi Jinping (R) meets with US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, September 19, 2012. Photo: Xinhua " src="http://www.globaltimes.cn/Portals/0/attachment/2011/a2ef5480-9c9b-4b9b-bf0e-4e0cf12b3ac7.jpg">

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping met with US Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta on Wednesday morning.

Panetta arrived in Beijing Monday evening, kicking off his first visit to China as the Pentagon chief. China is the second leg of his week-long Asia-Pacific visit, which also brings him to Japan and New Zealand.

Xi, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, said Panetta's visit will help to further advance the relationship between the two militaries as well as the two nations.

For his part, Panetta said he appreciates Xi's all-round support to encourage the military-to-military relationship and that he has confidence in better dialogues and communication between the two countries.

Panetta arrived in Beijing on Monday evening, kicking off his first visit to China as Pentagon chief. China is the second leg of his week-long Asia-Pacific visit, which also brings him to Japan and New Zealand.