China, US to work together in Asia-Pacific

The United States and China should work toward positive and stable interaction in the Asia-Pacific region, not confrontation, said Vice-Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Xu Caihou on Wednesday.

Xu made the remarks at a meeting in Beijing with US National Security Adviser Thomas Donilon, who wrapped up a three-day visit to China on Wednesday evening.

Xu urged the defense departments and militaries of the two countries to enhance strategic communication and mutual trust, increase pragmatic exchanges and work toward cooperation.

He called for the two countries to take care of each other's core interests and major concerns, and overcome the difficulties and obstacles that affect the development of relations between the two militaries.

The two countries should "build up and develop benign interaction, which is positive, not negative, cooperative but not confrontational, in the Asia-Pacific region, and push forward the bilateral military relations in a healthy and stable way", Xu said.

Donilon said the US' rebalancing toward the Asia-Pacific region not only refers to military, but also includes economic and diplomatic aspects.

He said the US strategic target in the Asia-Pacific region is to maintain regional stability and prosperity.

The US is willing to increase communication and cooperation with China in the Asia-Pacific region to safeguard regional security and stability, Donilon said.

Donilon noted that the China-US relationship is different from that of the US and former Soviet Union during the Cold War.

The two sides should increase communication to avoid misunderstanding and misjudgment, he said.

Donilon also called for the two countries to increase cooperation in peace keeping, humanitarian aid, disaster relief, and professional exchanges.

China and US military ties have experienced ups and downs in previous years along with the fluctuations of bilateral relations.

During Defense Minister Liang Guanglie's visit to the US earlier this year, the first visit to the US by a Chinese defense minister in nine years, the two sides agreed to conduct a joint military drill against pirates in the Gulf of Aden later this year.

The Asia-Pacific region has been a hot spot on the world stage, especially after the US' strategic pivoting to this region where China and the US have the most converging interests.

In the latest development, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that the US will send more than 30,000 participants to the annual joint military drill with South Korea from Aug 20 to 31.

"It's the historical trend that China and the US, as big powers, shoulder the responsibility for regional stability and prosperity," said Wang Xinjun, a researcher at the PLA Academy of Military Sciences.

"Long-term peace and stability could be achieved in the Asia-Pacific region as long as China and the US don't misjudge each other's strategic intention," Wang wrote in a recent article published by the People's Daily.

Donilon also met with Vice-President Xi Jinping, Vice-Premier Wang Qishan and Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi before leaving for Japan on Wednesday.

According to The Associated Press, Xi said a consensus was reached on many points in bilateral talks with Donilon, that shows the importance the US government attaches to relations with China.