Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Liang Guanglie on Thursday met with U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke, calling for closer military cooperation between the two nations.

To maintain smooth development of military ties between China and the United States is of great significance to improve strategic mutual trust, safeguard shared security interests, manage and control crises and prevent risks between the two countries, Liang said during the meeting.

The military ties should serve and enrich the overall bilateral China-U.S. relationship, and support the strategic stability of the relationship, said the defense minister.

He said China was ready to make joint efforts with the U.S. side to advance the bilateral military-to-military ties by respecting each other's core interests and major concerns and appropriately handle differences and sensitive issues.

Locke said China and the United States have a long history of helping each other, and the world depends on their leadership in responding to natural disasters, terrorist activities, piracy and other issues.

China and the United States should improve their communication and exchanges to avoid misunderstandings and miscalculations so as to further the development of the bilateral relations, he added.