Military visit to US can help build trust

The visit of China's Central Military Commission Vice-Chairman Fan Changlong to the United States sends an unmistakable signal to the outside world that Beijing and Washington are keen on bolstering the current good momentum in bilateral military exchanges.

Fan's visit is also proof of the fact that despite twists and turns in bilateral ties the two countries have learned to defuse tensions at an early stage. He is the highest-ranking officer who has ever visited the US since China's leadership transition in 2012.

His visit has come at a delicate time as China-US relations are facing tensions in the South China Sea.