China, US navy chiefs on new type of naval ties

China's navy commander Wu Shengli (L) meets with his U.S. counterpart Jonathan Greenert in Beijing, capital of China, July 15, 2014. (Xinhua/Zha Chunming)

China's navy commander Wu Shengli on Tuesday met his US counterpart Jonathan Greenert, calling for constructing a new type of naval ties so that to build mutual trust, safeguard maritime peace and stability.

When meeting with Greenert, Wu said a new type of naval relationship had positive significance for the new type of major country relations that China and the United States are trying to build, according to a statement released after the close-door meeting.

In accordance with the consensus reached by Chinese and US leaders, navies of the two countries are engaging in closer exchanges and more pragmatic cooperation, the statement quoted Wu as saying.

In a bid to enrich naval relations and promote the deepening of cooperation and exchanges between us, the two navies should discuss a dialogue mechanism, and strengthen exchanges between fleets, especially front-line fleets, according to Wu.

Wu called for cooperation in rescue and disaster relief, and implementing the Code for Unalerted Encounters at Sea, which was endorsed by the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in the Chinese port city of Qingdao in April.

Wu added that the two navies are faced with both unprecedented development opportunities and actual challenges, calling for proper handling of situations at sea and taking risks under control to safeguard peace and stability in the Asia Pacific.

Greenert said the two navies share common interests in many fields and the US side attaches great importance to its relations with the Chinese side.

He expressed hope that the two countries will strengthen cooperation and exchanges to build mutual trust and promote healthy development of the naval ties.

Greenert will visit China's Beihai Fleet during his stay in China.