Top military leaders for the U.S. and China have met in Beijing for routine talks that only resumed in January

American and Chinese military commanders spoke in a long-anticipated call Tuesday as the two powers seek to manage their intensifying rivalry in a contentious Asia-Pacific region – and repair lines of military communication severed more than two years ago.

Senior military officials from China and the United States held "in-depth" talks on Tuesday, Beijing's defence ministry said. On Tuesday, Beijing's defence ministry said Wu Yanan, head of the Chinese army's Southern Theater Command had held "an in-depth exchange of views" with Samuel Paparo,

Following US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's China trip in late August, US Senior Advisor to the President for International Climate Policy John Podesta started his three-day China visit on Wednesday with the aim of "practical cooperation.

The United States and China held theatre-level commander talks for the first time on Tuesday, Chinese authorities said, amid efforts to stabilise military ties and avoid misunderstandings, especially in regional hot spots such as the South China Sea.

Washington seeks to open new channels of regular military communication with Beijing since ties sank to a historic low after the United States downed a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon last year.

Chinese and US military commanders in the Indo-Pacific have held their first talks, with an emphasis on reducing the risk of "misperception and miscalculation."

Today, the United States and China held their first theatre-level commander talks aimed at stabilizing relations. One of the key topics was the ongoing tensions in the South China Sea, citing Reuters.