Senior military official meets with U.S. Secretary of Defense

Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission and U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis. [File photo: China Plus]

Xu Qiliang, vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission, met with visiting U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis in Beijing Thursday.

"It's hoped that China and the United States will further enhance mutual trust, deepen cooperation, handle disputes properly, manage risks and work together for better relations between the armed forces of the two countries," Xu said.

The two sides should work together to develop their military ties into "a stabilizer for bilateral relations," and contribute to regional and global peace and stability, he said.

Cooperation between the U.S. and China has been the mainstream in history, Mattis said, adding that the status and role of the two militaries in bilateral relations are essential.

The U.S. has the confidence to work together with China in establishing a constructive relationship between the two militaries, he said.

Both sides also exchanged views on issues including the situation in Asia-Pacific, Taiwan and the South China Sea.