The Xinhua news agency said Cao, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and a State Councillor, was invited by Rumsfeld on the "official, goodwill" visit.

As well as talks with the US Defence Secretary on "international and regional security issues", Cao will also meet other government and military leaders and visit military schools.

China-US relations are currently warm despite a recent spat over what Beijing said were "groundless" conclusions in the United States' annual report on China's military power.

The July report to Congress, which China said "wantonly misrepresented" its policy, said Beijing was annually adding 75 short-range missiles across from Taiwan and acquiring or developing weapons and tactics aimed at countering technologically superior US forces.

WAR.WIRE