US Undersecretary of Defense Michael Vickers also visited China from Jan 25-28.

During the visit, Vickers told Chinese military leaders that the establishment of new type of military-to-military relationship between US and China is a good thing for bilateral relations, according to Yang.

Yang also quoted Vickers as saying that both sides are expected to honestly implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, saying that mutual respect is a very important principle in developing the US-China bilateral relations.

Vickers also told Chinese military leaders that both sides should maintain high-level dialogues and promote pragmatic cooperation so as to jointly maintain strategic stability, according to Yang.

In their first summit at the Sunnylands estate in Rancho Mirage, California, in June 2013, Obama and Xi pledged to increase bilateral military-to-military exchanges, long regarded the least developed dimension of the overall bilateral relationship.

Since then, growing military-to-military exchanges have often been regarded by both sides as a new bright spot in bilateral relationship. Last summer, China for the first time participated in the US-led 22-nation Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, the world's largest naval war game.

"In the new year, China is willing to work together with the US to further implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries and push forward the healthy and stable military-to-military relationship," Yang said.

Despite warming up in military exchanges in recent years, tensions still exist. Many Chinese feel growingUS military presence in East Asia under its pivot to Asia Pacific strategy is aimed at China, while many in the US are concerned about China's growing military capability and active role in the region.

Many are also worried that the maritime territorial disputes between China and some of US treaty allies in the region, such as Japan and the Philippines, could run the risk of drawing US into potential future armed conflicts.

Testifying before the US Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said a special aspect of any Asian system will be the relationship between the US and China.

"It is often described as one between a rising power and an established power. Two successive American and Chinese presidents have announced their joint aim to deal with this matter on the basis of cooperation. Significant spokesmen in both countries have stressed the adversarial aspect," said the 90-year-old, who is credited for opening relations with China in the early 1970s.

"The direction taken will play a defining role in our period," Kissinger said.

Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said the US should stay vigorously engaged in Asia.

She told the hearings on Thursday that the Obama administration's rebalance strategy has reinforced commitments to allies such as Japan and South Korea, built stronger partnerships with India and nations of Southeast Asia, created new opportunities for regional trade and helped expand engagement with China on economic, diplomatic and military issues.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com