Chinese general urges calm amid regional tensions in US visit
PLA official Cai Yingting urges 'win-win' relationship with Washington, as visit signals 'maturing' ties despite Pacific tensions
PLA deputy chief of general staff Cai Yingting stressed during a visit to Washington the importance of trust and credibility between the Chinese and American militaries for developing a stable relationship.
Cai made the comments at a meeting on Friday with Admiral James Winnefeld, the No 2 officer in the US armed forces.
Analysts saw their meeting during such a sensitive period, with the United States and Japan conducting joint naval exercises in the Pacific Ocean, as evidence that the relationship between the two powers was maturing.
Speaking to reporters in Washington, Cai revealed that US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta would visit China next month.
Cai said he had conveyed to his US colleagues China's strong opposition to the application of the US-Japan security treaty to the Diaoyu Islands. Tensions between Beijing and Tokyo have flared in recent weeks over the disputed territory, which Japan calls the Senkaku Islands.
US-Japan military exercises began on Tuesday. Both countries have described the training operations as routine and denied the exercises were held with China in mind.
During his visit to the Pentagon, Cai, who also met Deputy US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter, urged the development of a "win-win" relationship based on "respect, fairness and tolerance" between the US and China, according to Xinhua.