The Chinese and the U.S. navy vessels conducted offshore search and rescue exercises on September 9 in California, part of the China-U.S.joint anti-terrorism military exercises.

Qin said China and the United States had a common interest in safeguarding regional and international peace and security.

"China is ready to step up exchanges between the two armed forces," the spokesman said.

Apart from the naval exercises, the Chinese navy fleet will also visit some U.S. cities, which will help develop mutual understanding and trust, Qin said.

Two Chinese navy vessels, the Qingdao and the Hongzehu, arrived in Pearl Harbor on September 6, the first Chinese navy vessels to call on a U.S. state in six years.

Port visits were suspended in 2001 when a Chinese fighter aircraft was damaged by a U.S. surveillance plane over the South China Sea. But relations between the two armed forces have been improving recently.

Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission (CMC) Guo Boxiong visited the United States in July at the invitation of theU.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Guo is the highest-ranking military officer to visit the United States since 2001.

In reply to a question about establishing a possible hotline between Washington and Beijing, Qin said China agrees in principle to maintain contact and dialogue with the U.S. side.

The hotline needs further discussion, he said.

China attaches great importance to constructive and cooperative China-U.S. relations. Dialogue between the two nations has deepened mutual understanding and promoted bilateral links, said Qin

Source: Xinhua News Agency

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