BEIJING, July 8 -- Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Fang Fenghui met with visiting commander of U.S. Pacific Command Samuel Locklear on Tuesday and they pledged to control disputes and push ahead with relations between the two militaries.

During the meeting, Fang said the two sides should cherish bilateral relations and appropriately handle their disputes while seeking more common ground.

Fang urged the U.S. side to work with China to safeguard peace and stability in the region and the world at large.

Locklear said that the two sides should take a long-term perspective, handle disputes and advance military ties under the requirements of the leaders of the two countries.

Locklear is in Beijing to attend the sixth China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue and the fourth China-U.S. Strategic Security Dialogue.