US, Chinese presidents agree to step up dialogue between their militaries
Barack Obama and Xi Jinping see eye to eye on improving military dialogue - and both are desperate to avoid a costly arms race
US President Barack Obama has reiterated the need to improve the military dialogue between the United States and the mainland in order to help both sides understand each others' strategic objectives.
"We've had high-level diplomatic communications about economic and strategic issues, but we haven't always had as effective communications between our militaries," Obama said after the first day of his summit with President Xi Jinping at the Annenberg Retreat in California.
"And at a time when there's so much activity around the world, it's very important that we each understand our strategic objectives at the military and political level."
During his meeting with Obama, Xi agreed to "improve and strengthen the military-to-military relationships" between China and the US.
Washington has repeatedly pushed Beijing for greater military transparency and to improve high-level military contacts with the US as China proceeds with its modernisation of the People's Liberation Army.
Chinese experts on military and Sino-US affairs said Beijing would welcome Obama's call to establish a senior-level military dialogue because both sides wanted to avoid a costly arms race.
"As the current supreme power in the world, the US is worried that China's rapid military modernisation will cause a cut-throat arms race between the two sides in future, which might challenge its military status," military commentator Ni Lexiong said in Shanghai.