Beijing: US National Security Adviser Tom Donilon is pushing for stronger relations between the US and Chinese militaries ahead of a summit between President Barack Obama and China`s Xi Jinping.
Donilon told top Chinese Gen. Fan Changlong today that the sides should boost cooperation in nontraditional military activities such as peacekeeping, disaster relief and fighting piracy.
Donilon was meeting with Xi and other Chinese leaders over two days in Beijing to prepare for the June 7-8 summit, the first face-to-face meeting between the leaders since Obama`s re-election and Xi`s promotion to Communist Party chief last November.
Building trust between their militaries is one of the main challenges the sides face in seeking to stop a drift in relations, under pressure from trade disputes and allegations of Chinese cyberspying.
PTI
