American Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Saturday in Singapore that dialogue between the United States and China is important and will help avoid miscalculations that could lead to conflict, AFP reports.

Lloyd Austin made the remarks at the Shangri-La Defense Dialogue Summit after Beijing rejected an invitation to an official meeting between Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu.

However, the two officials shook hands and spoke for the first time at the opening lunch of this conference.

“The United States believes that open lines of communication with the People’s Republic of China are important, especially between our military and defense officials,” Austin said in his speech. which can lead to crises or conflicts,” the head of the Pentagon added.

The United States invited Li Shangfu to meet with Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the conference. But Beijing refused, and an official spokeswoman said that “the United States is well aware of why there are now difficulties in military communication” between the two countries.

Li Shangfu, who became defense minister in March, was hit by US sanctions in 2018 for buying Russian weapons. But the Pentagon says that does not prevent Lloyd Austin from holding official dialogue with his Chinese counterpart.

“A hearty handshake during dinner is not a substitute for substantial commitments,” the American minister complained about the situation at the conference.

Lloyd Austin is currently on a tour of Asia which has already visited Japan and also visited India. The tour is part of Washington’s efforts to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the region amid China’s growing power. .