US navy Vice-Admiral Paul Gaffney met Chinese Defence Minister Chi Haotian in Beijing yesterday, signalling progress in bilateral military ties.
Admiral Gaffney is being accompanied by seven officers and academics from the National Defence University on a tour which also includes Xian, Hangzhou and Shanghai, Kyodo news agency reported.
Admiral Gaffney, who is president of the prestigious military institution, is the highest-ranking American military officer to visit Beijing since the spy-plane crisis ruptured relations 18 months ago.
According to Xinhua, General Chi emphasised to Admiral Gaffney that Beijing and Washington would both benefit if the two countries co-operated.
General Chi reiterated China's position on Taiwan and sounded a veiled warning that Washington should not sell advanced weapons to the island. Beijing has consistently claimed such sales undermine ties between China and the US.
'[We] should adopt a strategic perspective in handling Sino-US relations and not allow our differences to stand in the way of dialogue and co-operation,' General Chi was quoted as saying.
Military analysts said the visit by the US admiral, whose rank is the equivalent of a three-star general, is a sign that US-China military relations continue to improve despite occasional setbacks.
