China said it is open to meeting with the U.S. defense secretary on the sidelines of a regional security forum in Cambodia this week.

Defense Minister Wei Fenghe and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin had earlier separately confirmed that they would attend the ASEAN-Plus defense ministers' meeting.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Tan Kefei noted that China has an active and open stance on exchanges with the United States. He also said that the two sides are coordinating on an exchange of views at a forum to be held Wednesday.

The meeting will be the first high-level military contact between the countries since China halted regular dialogue between military leaders in August in retaliation for U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.