Washington and Beijing have verbally sparred over China’s increasingly assertive approach in disputed maritime regions, including the South China Sea.
In recent months, Chinese vessels have engaged in a series of high-profile confrontations with Philippine ships in the waters, which Beijing claims almost in their entirety despite an international court ruling that its assertion has no legal basis.
On Thursday, Lt Gen He said a resolution to those tensions “depends on the United States”.
He also confirmed that US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Chase would attend this week’s Xiangshan forum in Beijing.
“I hope that during his visit, during his meetings here, Michael Chase will listen more to the voices of China and the Chinese military,” he said.
“The message we are sending to the United States is that we want the two countries and armies to be partners, to be friends, we want to pursue China-US relations featuring win-win cooperation,” he said.
“We want the United States to make more contributions to regional and world peace, security and stability,” he added.
While there is an expectation of cordial relations between Washington and Beijing for now and conversations will continue, it will take longer for tensions between the two to thaw, said Dr Ho.
“No one is under any illusion that the relationship between both countries will improve simply by just one or two conversations,” he told CNA’s Asia First programme.
Scores of delegates were in the Chinese capital on Thursday for the Xiangshan forum, dubbed China’s answer to Singapore’s annual “Shangri-La” meeting.
It is set to host more than 500 representatives from over 90 countries and international organisations, organisers have said.
Official speeches are expected on Friday, when the forum’s opening ceremony will take place and top military representatives from Russia, Pakistan, Singapore, Iran, Germany and others will participate in roundtable discussion.
