China, US vow stable military ties

Beijing, May 2 (IANS) China and the US Wednesday pledged to maintain "healthy and stable bilateral military relations".

Frequent high-level visits between the two sides have promoted a cooperative partnership of mutual respect, said Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie during his meeting here with acting US under-secretary of defence James N. Miller.

Noting that bilateral military ties face new opportunities, Liang called on both sides to steer the relations on a "correct course" in accordance with the principle of mutual respect, mutual trust, reciprocity and mutual benefit, Xinhua reported.

Miller, who is in Beijing to attend the second China-US Strategic Security Dialogue, described the military ties as the most important part of bilateral relations.