国内英语新闻:Senior Chinese, U.S. military officials to exchange visits in 2011

Ma said while the two militaries share a broad range of common interests, there are problems and hurdles in their relationship. He said the main hurdles are U.S. arms sales to China's Taiwan province, Congress' restrictions on military exchanges between the two countries and U.S. air and sea military surveillance operations in China's exclusive economic zones.

Ma said in order to keep the military-to-military ties on a stable development track, both sides need to build their relationship on the principles of mutual respect, mutual trust, equality and mutual benefit. To that end, they need to respect each other's core interests and major concerns, properly handle differences and sensitive issues, continuously foster and increase mutual strategic trust, and consolidate and expand common interests.

Flournoy told Ma that a consistent and stable military relationship between the two countries is important in maintaining a positive, cooperative and comprehensive relationship between the two nations.

She said the U.S. side is willing to further develop and enhance the military relationship between the two countries.

At a Pentagon news briefing on the same day, Flournoy said she and Ma had a "very candid and frank and productive exchange of views."