BEIJING - Chen Bingde, Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), held talks with his US counterpart Mike Mullen on Monday.

Mullen, chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, arrived in Beijing Saturday night for a four-day visit to China. A welcoming ceremony was held earlier Monday morning ahead of their talks.

Mullen is making the visit at the invitation of Chen, as a reciprocal visit for Chen's trip in May to the United States.

"The two sides will exchange views extensively on the further development of China-US military ties, the international and regional security situation and other issues of common concern," Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said last week at a news briefing.

"The visit is an important event in the military-to-military exchanges between the two countries," Yang said.