By Xinhua writer Xiong Zhengyan

BEIJING, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) -- A senior Chinese general Thursday met with the head of a leading U.S. think tank and discussed the building of strong military ties between the two countries, despite military exchanges between the two nations having been frozen since January.

"A sound and stable China-U.S. military relationship is good for bilateral strategic trust and regional peace and stability," Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Ma Xiaotian told John Hamre, president of the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).

Hamre served as the U.S. deputy secretary of defense during the Clinton administration before joining CSIS in 2000.

Hamre is in China at the invitation of a leading Chinese think tank, the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, for an academic symposium.

"China has always attached great importance to developing military ties with the United States and has made efforts in this regard," Ma told Hamre.

"Stronger military-to-military ties will be a very good thing for the two countries...We should have broader and deeper contact," Hamre said.

On growing bilateral military ties, Ma proposed both sides respect each other's core interests and major concerns.

Both sides should also properly handle differences and sensitive issues, Ma added.

Hamre said China's prosperity contributes to the world, adding that the PLA's development is "logical."

The former U.S. defense official said it is necessary for the two militaries to maintain candid communication to keep stable military relations.

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Editor: Mu Xuequan