China and the United States should follow non-confrontation and mutual respect and should avoid clashes, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said Thursday at the international Xiangshan Forum on security issues, RIA Novosti news agency.

“Chinese-American relations in the military sphere are important, and at the same time sensitive,” he said. “We need to make an effort to implement the consensus that was reached by the leaders of the two countries. We must avoid clashes, follow the principles of non-intervention, mutual respect, mutually beneficial cooperation, and meet each other halfway.”

Also, Wei urged to turn relations between the armies of both countries into the guarantee of stability in bilateral relations.