China's Defense Ministry urged the United States on Thursday to stabilize and improve military ties through "candid, effective and constructive" dialogues and cooperation.

The ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang made the remarks in a news conference in Beijing in response to recent China-US military engagements.

In early September, the commanders of the People's Liberation Army Southern Theater Command and US Indo-Pacific Command held a video phone call.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for China attended the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum in mid-September. In addition, China and the US held the 18th Defense Policy Coordination Talks this month.

Zhang said that after the San Francisco meeting last November and their phone talk this April between the heads of states of the two countries, the top leaders have set the direction for a sound, stable and sustainable China-US relationship.

"At present, there is a stable momentum in the overall and defense relations between China and the US," he said.

"The two militaries maintain high-level strategic communication, policy communication, institutionalized dialogues and exchanges in specialized fields."

These engagements could help enhance mutual understanding, avoid miscalculation, and manage and control risks, said the spokesman.

"We require the US side to recalibrate its strategic perception on China, return to a sensible and practical China policy, and respect China's major concerns," Zhang said.

The two sides should make concerted efforts in the principle of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation to stabilize and improve the bilateral military ties through candid, effective and constructive dialogues and cooperation," said the official.