BEIJING - The visit to the United States by General Chen Bingde, chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), marks an important step in getting Sino-US military-to-military exchanges back on solid footing.

The visit, the first in seven years by a PLA chief of the General Staff, demonstrates the significance that Admiral Michael Mullen, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, attaches to the visit by Chen and the Chinese delegation of high-ranking military officers, as well as the US' renewed efforts to develop relations between the two militaries.

During his tour of the US, Chen will reportedly visited the Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia, Fort Stewart in Georgia, Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and the US Army National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California. Some have reportedly not been open for visiting military leaders in years.

His visit extends the consensus reached by President Hu Jintao and US President Barack Obama in January, which touched upon rebuilding military relations. If the militaries do indeed establish new bonds, it will help develop Sino-US military relations after 10 years or more of stagnation. Back in January, President Hu reportedly made agreements with Obama to deepen strategic trust and cooperation. The visit pointed the way for how Sino-US relations will develop in the near future.

Since military relations are vital to Sino-US relations, how the military relations proceed now will build a foundation for the development of Sino-US military relations in the long run.

The two nations have repeatedly said they would like to work together to build a win-win partnership of mutual respects but both sides should respect and consider each of their core interests and major concerns. They should take tangible steps to overcome difficulties and obstacles in the development of military relations.

Over the past few years, military ties between China and the US have experienced ups and downs, especially when the US sells arms to Taiwan. But China still sees three major obstacles within their relations: the aforementioned arms sales to Taiwan, frequent reconnaissance missions by US naval ships and aircraft in what China believes are its exclusive economic zones, and restrictions imposed by US laws on technical exchanges and cooperation between the two armed forces.

These issues are all obstacles to the development of bilateral relations and have yet to be resolved. Wide-ranging missions by US warships and aircraft near the coast of China is the main source of maritime danger - it seriously harms China's security interests. It also affects China's trust in the US and could create military incidents. Discriminatory US laws that limit military exchanges and high-tech exports to China are contrary to the development of military relations.

In a move to hurdle these obstacles, both sides established a hotline for each to call if an incident was to occur. But the hotline has been little used, reportedly only four times within three years. In 2010, for example, when there was thick tension between the two nations after the sale of arms to Taiwan and Obama's meeting with the Dalai Lama, the hotline still wasn't used. With these obstacles still present, China and the US need to establish a way in which to communicate to understand each other.

The main tasks of the visit have been to discuss strengthening communication and exchanges between the two militaries and exchange views on international and regional issues. But by far the most important task at hand is to establish a mechanism for Sino-US military exchanges and cooperation.

Thus far, each side has agreed to hold high-level military visits, hold exchanges between young and middle-aged officers and have cultural exchanges. Future cooperation thus far will include military cooperation in disaster relief.

The issue over military relations is the most sensitive aspect to their relations. It should be built on a continued, stable development of relations. Military ties will only become rejuvenated when each country cooperates in the realm of politics, the economy and culture.

The author is a military specialist with the National Defense University PLA China.

China Daily