Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. John Richardson held a video teleconference (VTC) with Vice Adm. Shen Jinlong, People's Liberation Army (Navy) Commander, Dec. 18.

The two leaders exchanged views on Navy-to-Navy and bilateral military relations and expressed the importance of high-level communication. Speaking from the Pentagon, Richardson emphasized the United States Navy's commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, specifically addressing risk reduction and operational safety measures to prevent unwanted and unnecessary escalation.

Both leaders agreed that constructive, mil-to-mil relations can serve as a stabilizing factor for the U.S.-China relationship.

This was the third time Richardson and Shen have engaged over VTC. Shen also attended the International Seapower Symposium, hosted by Richardson in September 2018.

For more news from the Chief of Naval Operations, visit http://www.navy.mil/cno/

Get more information about the Navy from US Navy facebook or twitter.

For more news from Chief of Naval Operations, visit www.navy.mil/.