( CNN ) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates held talks with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Monday on the first stop of his weeklong trip to Asia . It is Gates ' second visit to the country since he assumed the post in December 2006 . The trip is intended to deepen the military relationship between the United States and China -- a relationship that suffered a setback last year when Beijing objected to Washington 's sale of defensive weapons to Taiwan . Ahead of his arrival in Beijing , Gates told reporters traveling with him that he intended to discuss strategies and policies to avoid `` miscalculations and misunderstandings and miscommunications . '' Gates also wants the two nations to hold more high-level visits , he said . `` My own view is that a positive , constructive , comprehensive relationship between the United States and China is not just in the mutual interest of the two countries , but in the interests of the region , and I would say the globe , '' he said . For his part , Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie told Gates that the relationship will require efforts from both sides to resolve disagreements . `` The Sino-U.S. military relationship has new opportunities for development . It also faces challenges , '' Liang was quoted as saying by the state run Xinhua news agency .
NEW : Liang : Relationship has opportunities and challenges . The trip is Gates ' second to China since he became defense secretary . The relationship between the two sides suffered a setback last year . Gates has said he wants the two nations to hold more high-level visits .