SINGAPORE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese army stands ready to step up military-to-military exchanges with the Asia-pacific nations and press ahead with cooperation in areas like counter-terrorism and disaster relief, a senior Chinese military officer told an Asian security conference here Saturday.

　　"We will work together with nations in this region to maintain regional peace and stability and are committed to unremitting efforts for a harmonious Asia-Pacific region of lasting peace and shared prosperity," Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, addressed defense ministers and military officials from 27 countries around the world.

　　In his remarks to the annual conference, known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, Ma elaborated China's defense policy.

　　"China has been high holding the banner of peace, development and cooperation and unswervingly adhering to the path of peaceful development," Ma said, while facing the complex and volatile international and regional situation, intertwined past and present disputes as well as traditional security threat combined with outstanding non-traditional security threat.

　　"This has been the strategic choice made by the Chinese government and people in accordance with the trends of the era and the fundamental national interests. It is also our solemn pledge to the international community," he added.

　　To strengthen defense development is the fundamental guarantee to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, Ma said, adding that it is also the necessary requirement to effectively respond to multiple security threats.

　　On China's defense development, Ma said that it is compatible with the country's economic growth, with defense expenditure consistently within the limit of affordability.

　　"China's growing economy and fiscal revenue makes the defense budget increase a logic and imperative reality," the senior official said.

　　However, compared to increase in other sectors, he said, "the increase of defense budget is limited and proportional."

　　"No matter it is the actual total or gross domestic product (GDP) proportion, China's defense expenditure is at a low level, in contrast to some developed countries in the world," he added.

　　He reiterated that China would always adopt a defensive defense policy and does not engage in arms race.

　　"We are military threat to no other country. We shall never seek for hegemony or expansion," he said.

　　He said China argues for universal security of the international community and repels acts of ensuring security of some countries at the cost of others, including the expansion of military alliance.

　　On the outer space issue, Ma said it belongs to the whole mankind and "it is imperative to make peaceful use of outer space and oppose weaponization and arms race in outer space."

　　It is also important to facilitate international arms control agenda and address the proliferation of weapons of massive destruction (WMD), he said.