"We welcome US efforts to promote mutual understanding and the development of military ties between the two countries," foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told journalists at a routine briefiing.

"We will actively consider the invitation of the United States to observe its military operations in Guam."

On Monday US Admiral William Fallon, the commander of US forces in the Pacific, said he had invited Chinese commanders to observe the military exercises near the US territory of Guam in June.

Fallon ended a seven-day visit to China on Monday in which he met top military leaders and visited several bases as part of efforts to build confidence and increase mutual understanding.

China and US military ties soured greatly after a collision between a US spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet over the South China Sea that ended with the death of the Chinese pilot in 2001.

During a series of meetings over the last year between US President George W. Bush and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao the two leaders pledged to step up efforts to build confidence between their armed forces.

China has inisted that US support for Taiwan, an island Beijing says must eventually be reunified with the mainland, remains the main obstacle to improving military ties.

Related Links