12:30 GMT, September 30, 2009 BEIJING | According to reports of China's state-run press agency Xinhua, China on Tuesday urged the United States to create conditions for the stable development of military-to-military relations.

"We hope the U.S. cautiously handles issues of arms sales to Taiwan and vessel and plane surveillance ," said Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA).

In a meeting with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, Ma said the two sides should "respect each other's core interests" and "properly handle differences and sensitive issues."

Ma said military relations between the two countries had shown positive signs.

Ma attributed the warming military ties to both sides' implementation of the important consensus achieved by Chinese President Hu Jintao and U.S. President Barack Obama.

"China takes a positive attitude on improving military exchanges with the U.S., and will expand common interests and cooperation to push forward military ties," he said.

Steinberg said his country would work with China for better military relations, which was vital to the long-term development of bilateral ties.

He said the U.S. would like to conduct "sustainable and stable dialogue" with China on strategic issues.