Xinhua News Agency, May 16-- this afternoon, State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu made a phone call with Japanese Defense Minister Seiichi Hamada for the first time and exchanged views on the defense relations between the two countries. The establishment and opening of the direct telephone is a practical measure to implement the important consensus between the leaders of the two countries, which will effectively enrich the communication channels between the defense departments of the two countries, strengthen the ability of both sides to manage and control maritime and air crises, and be conducive to further safeguarding regional peace and stability.