BEIJING, July 6: China and the United States are planning joint military exercises to start undoing years of mistrust between the two sides, the official China Daily reported today, reports AFP.

In an editorial to mark US President Bill Clinton’s landmark visit here, the newspaper said small-scale Joint maneuvers could go ahead.

"It is possible the two sides will hold Joint military exercises on a small scale in the near future, including participation in a non-military on-sea rescue or anti-piracy exercises," the editorial said.

The cooperation between the two sides will reduce mutual skepticism and help avoid strategic confrontations." It added.

During Clinton's summit in Beijing on June 27. the two sides agreed not to target their strategic nuclear weapons at each other and signed three Joint statements on landmines, nuclear non-proliferation and biological weapons.

They also agreed to increase military exchanges. Including the observation of each other's military exercises and the coordination of efforts for disaster relief.

"With the existence of the Taiwan issue and the Korean peninsula problem, as well as the issues of regional nuclear proliferation and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. tne two sides inevitably share common security interests." the editorial said.