Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John Richardson visits the Chinese People's Liberation Army (Navy) Submarine Academy in Qingdao on July 20, where he met with his counterpart to discuss how to improve understanding. VCG

Despite the tensions in the South China Sea, military-to-military exchange between China and the United States sails on unabated.

The USS Benfold, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, arrived Monday in Qingdao, Shandong province, for a five-day visit, according to China's Ministry of National Defense and the US Navy.

A US Navy statement said Benfold's visit advances maritime cooperation and encourages a positive naval relationship with the People's Liberation Army Navy North Sea Fleet.

The North Sea Fleet, headquartered in Qingdao, held a welcoming ceremony on Monday for the Benfold, with a total of 285 crew members, according to China's defense ministry.

US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Scott Swift was also scheduled to arrive Monday to join Benfold for the visit.

"Sailors are sailors at the end of the day, be it in the east or in the west; we all face the same challenges at sea," Benfold commanding officer Justin Harts said in a statement.

"These similarities unite us. I am sure that by the end of the week we will see that American sailors and Chinese sailors are as close as any other sailors out on the high seas. The port visit is a tremendous opportunity to build relationships between sailors based on shared interests and perspectives," Harts said.

In Qingdao, crew of the Benfold, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, will host a reception and ship visits, as well as attend receptions and visits hosted by the PLA Navy. The scheduled events include a sports day featuring soccer, basketball and tug-of-war contests and a concert by the US 7th Fleet Band.

Benfold crew will also explore the seaside city of Qingdao, including touring the Qingdao Museum and Tsingtao Beer Museum.

The Benfold visit comes just days after a PLA Navy taskforce left Pearl Harbor on Friday after completing the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC 2016) exercises, the world's largest multilateral naval war game, which is held in and around waters of the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California.

The PLA Navy taskforce participating in the 53-day RIMPAC 2016 included guided-missile destroyer Xi'an, guided-missile frigate Hengshui, supply ship Gaoyouhu, submarine rescue ship Changdao and hospital ship Peace Ark, with a total of 1,200 personnel.

"Our participation in the RIMPAC 2016 exercise is a trip for friendship, cooperation and exhibition, not only showcasing our strength, but also conveying our sincere goodwill for seeking peace," Wang Sheqiang, commanding officer of the PLA Navy taskforce, was quoted as saying in a press release posted by the Ministry of National Defense on Monday.

"The Chinese Navy is willing to cooperate with the navies of all peace-loving countries, so as to jointly safeguard world peace and regional stability," he said.

RIMPAC 2016 was joined by 26 nations, with more than 40 ships and submarines, 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel, more countries and personnel than in any previous year.

It was the second time China participated in RIMPAC. The first time was in 2015.

Vice Admiral Nora Tyson, commander of the US 3rd Fleet, who served as the RIMPAC 2016 combined taskforce commander, called the drills "an unqualified success."

"The collaboration and cohesiveness between participants proved that we can operate effectively with our partner nations and that we will be ready in the Pacific if or when we're called upon," she said.

Three weeks ago, US Chief of Naval Operations John Richardson visited Qingdao and Beijing to meet his counterpart Wu Shengli, commander of the PLA Navy, to discuss a wide range of issues, including military-to-military cooperation and tensions in the South China Sea.

Richardson's first visit to China came just days after a July 12 ruling by a Hague-based arbitration tribunal over a case brought by the Philippines on issues regarding territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. China, which rejected the arbitration in the first place, has denounced the tribunal and the ruling.

Port calls have been a normal part of the bilateral military-to-military exchange. In May, the USS Blue Ridge, the command ship of the 7th Fleet, visited Shanghai. Last November, PLA Navy Escort Taskforce 152, consisting of three ships and more than 800 officers and sailors, arrived at US Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Florida, for the PLA Navy's first port call to the US East Coast.

chenweihua@chinadailyusa.com