BEIJING - China has made careful preparations for US Admiral Mike Mullen's visit next week and expects the trip to yield positive results, a spokesman said Thursday.

Mullen, chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff, will make the visit from Sunday to Wednesday, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said at a press briefing in Beijing.

It's a return visit for Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army Chen Bingde's trip to the United States in May, Yang said.

"The visit is an important issue for the military-to-military relations between the two countries," Yang said.

Chen himself approved the arrangements for the visit and made a phone call to Mullen on the visit," according to the spokesman.

Chen will hold talks with the U.S. admiral and host him at a welcoming dinner. A welcoming ceremony is slated for Monday morning ahead of their talks.

"The two sides will exchange views extensively on the further development of China-U.S. military ties, the international and regional security situation and other issues that both are concerned with," Yang said.

Mullen is also scheduled to visit China's air force, army and navy as well as the second artillery force in Beijing, Shandong and Zhejiang.

"Those arrangements reflect China's positive attitude to and sincerity for the development of the military-to-military relationship," said the spokesman.

"We look forward to positive results for Admiral Mullen's visit with the joint efforts of the two sides, just like Chief of the General Staff Chen's visit to the United States in May," he added.