BEIJING, Jan. 15 (ChinaMil) -- General Li Zuocheng, Member of China’s Central Military Commission (CMC) and Chief of the CMC Joint Staff Department, met with Chief of US Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson in Beijing on Tuesday.

During the meeting, General Li said that 40 years of China-US diplomatic relations have proved that the two countries share much more common interests than contradictions and disputes, and cooperation is the best choice for both sides. The military relationship between the two countries is the essential part of China-US relations, and leaders of the two countries value it very much and have provided important guidance for its development.

Li hoped that the two militaries should respect each other, enhance mutual trust, strengthen communication, manage and control risks and try to promote the military-to-military relations as a stabilizer for the two countries’ relationship.

Admiral Richardson said that the US attaches great importance to developing constructive and results-oriented military relations between two countries. The US is willing to work with China to strengthen high-level exchanges between the two militaries, make good use of the existing communication and dialogue channels, enhance mutual understanding, reduce misunderstandings and misjudgments, manage and control the risks of disagreement.

Both sides also exchanged opinions on such issues as Taiwan and the South China Sea. General Li Zuocheng stressed that Taiwan issue is China’s internal affair, bears on China's core interests and the national feelings of the Chinese people, and allows no external interference. If someone tries to split Taiwan from China, the Chinese military will do whatever it takes to safeguard national reunification, national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Admiral Richardson commenced his visit to China on January 13 at the invitation of Commander of the Chinese PLA Navy Vice Admiral Shen Jinlong.