Amid the territorial tensions in Northeast Asia, a senior US defense official told the visiting Chinese military guests that the Pentagon's Asia-Pacific pivot does not target at China nor contain China's growing power in the region.

Cai Yingting, Chinese deputy chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, paid an unexpected visit to the United States this week and met with their counterparts at the Pentagon on Thursday, according to the news release from Chinese embassy in Washington.

The two militaries have increased their exchanges this year and Cai's visit followed the high-profile visit of Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie in early May. But neither side announced Cai's visit in advance.

Cai and US Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter exchanged views on a broad range of issues, including the mil-to-mil relationship, US's Asia-Pacific defense strategies and other topics of common concerns.

Cai said the two militaries should maintain the relations based on equality, cooperation and mutual benefit.

China is willing to work with the United States to promote the sound development of this mil-to-mil relationship, enhance the communications and properly solve the differences and disputes, he said.

Carter said the two sides should look into the future and expand cooperation in Asia-Pacific region, the most dynamic area in the world. And the US side expects that China can remain its partner and work hard to seek the path of common prosperity through cooperation.

Cai also met with General Lloyd J. Austin, III, Vice Chief of Staff of US Army and Admiral James A. Winnefeld Jr, Vice-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

His entourage included Wang Ning, chief of staff of the Beijing Military Area Command, Zheng Qunliang, deputy commander of the Jinan Military Area Command, Jia Xiaowei, chief of staff of the Guangzhou Military Area Command and Chen Shoumin, deputy head of the strategic planning department of the PLA General Staff Headquarters.

Analysts expected that the Diaoyu islands issue would be discussed by the two militaries.

On the same day of Cai's visit, Army Gen and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Martin E. Dempsey met with Gen. Shigeru Iwasaki, chief of joint staff for Japan Self Defense Forces, to discuss ways to further enhance the nations' strategic and personal partnership in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond, according to the Pentagon.

Cai started the trip in New York on Monday. The delegation visited the US army base at Fort Hood, Texas, and the training center in Missouri on Tuesday and Wednesday.

tanyingzi@chinadailyusa.com