Visiting U.S. Admiral William Fallon said Monday that it is very important to promote understanding between the United States and China.
   
"I believe it is important to understand each other better," Fallon, commander of the U.S. Pacific Command, said at a news conference in Shenyang, capital city of northeast China's Liaoning Province.
   
Fallon arrived in Beijing on May 9 and met with senior Chinese military officers, including Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan, People's Liberation Army Deputy Chief of Staff General Ge Zhenfeng.
   
He also visited several military academies and facilities in three Chinese cities including Shenyang.
   
Fallon said that his visit gave him the opportunity to see a range of things that he had not seen before.
   
Since taking office in February 2005, Fallon has repeatedly called for a full restoration of contact between the two armed forces.
   
"The reason that I came to China again was to continue the work we began last year, that is to enhance the dialogue between senior military personnel," Fallon said.
   
"It is necessary for the leaders to understand the strategic level issues and to discuss them in detail. It's also necessary to include the many levels of military personnel to have a better understanding of what is going on. Obviously we have a long way to go; there are many things that need to be done.
   
"No other issue is as large as the relationship between the US and China. We have started moving forward in areas of common interests that we share in this region and the rest of the world."

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2006)