Preparations are underway for the first in-person talks between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese defense minister Wei Fenghe in Singapore.

The US Defense Department announced that Austin will travel to the city-state to participate in an Asia security forum that starts next Friday.

Wei is expected to deliver a speech at the conference, called the Shangri-La Dialogue. It will be attended by defense and military leaders.

A Pentagon official told NHK that discussions are ongoing to decide the time and venue of a meeting between Austin and Wei.

It would be the first time for the two to meet face-to-face since the administration of US President Joe Biden was inaugurated.

Austin and Wei had their first telephone conversation in April. They exchanged views on the issues of Taiwan and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The United States is becoming increasingly wary of China, which is intensifying its military activities.

The US hopes to establish a communication route by maintaining dialogue between their defense ministers so as to avert any unintended clashes.