US, China armies to start institutional dialogue: US officer

Notwithstanding the current row over the meeting between President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama, the US and China are working to establish institutional dialogue between their two armies.
"It is a very important first step," General Ray Odierno, US Army Chief of Staff told reporters here noting that the dialogue is the first time at institutional level and is "more long-term and more long-standing."
The first meeting of the dialogue is expected to be held this year, he said.
He said that the dialogue would include humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, peacekeeping and various military exchanges.
Odierno is on his first visit to China as US army chief. His trip is focused on improving the military-to-military relationship between China and the United States.

He said he believes that the two militaries have a lot in common and that it is important to emphasise engagement, dialogue, understanding and trust.

As significant Pacific nations, it is important that the US and China have "a common understanding and work together to continue to develop the objectives that we both have, which is a secure and stable environment that allows both our economies to grow," he said.
On the subject of the US military position on disputes between China and Japan in the East China Sea, Odierno said the US side reinforces the importance of dialogue and discussion between the two Asian neighbours and expects great care to ensure there are no miscalculations along the way.

During his two days in Beijing, Odierno had meetings with Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Fan Changlong and senior officials on the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.
Odierno will continue his trip in China with a visit to Shenyang.
China vociferously objected to yesterday's meeting between Obama and Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, stating that it constituted interference in its internal affairs and warned Washington that it would have an adverse effect on bilateral ties.