China is using the Shangri-La Dialogue as an opportunity to have deeper talks with participating countries. On the first day of the security summit, deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of China's Central Military Commission, Admiral Sun Jianguo, met with defense ministers, military chiefs, and high-ranking officials to exchange thoughts on difficult issues facing the region.

Pledging to step-up military cooperation...Sun met with Russia's Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov.

He said that both sides are facing a more complicated international security situation and that closer cooperation is needed.

Antonov said Russia was also keen to step-up teamwork on security matters.

"It is very important that this platform gives us an opportunity to sit together without protocols, without official speeches, but just to understand where we are and what we have to do to improve the international situation," Antonov said

Antonov said that the Russian military is keen to launch more joint maritime drills and anti-terror exercises with China.

He also vowed to deepen military cooperation under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

SCO issued a statement last week on the South China Sea issue. It said all SCO countries agreed and supported China's efforts to safeguard peace and stability in the region.

It is the second international group after the Arab League to support China's stance on the issue.

ASEAN is another important organization that China is looking for support.

Parallel to the Shangri-La dialogue, Sun also held bilateral meetings with representatives from some ASEAN countries, including Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand.

The countries agreed to forge friendly and cooperative military ties with China and effectively maintain peace and stability in the region.

"Military ties between Vietnam and China have developed smoothly. Cooperation has been promoted in many areas including border defense, strategic dialogue, navy and coast guard forces. Talks were held to bridge the gap between our views," said Nguyen Chi Vinh, Vietnamese deputy defense minister.

In a meeting with Singapore's Minister of Defense, Sun expressed the wish that host Singapore would properly direct the dialogue process, in an effort to deflate conflict, boost cooperation and help stabilize regional security.

He also held talks with officials from Australia and New Zealand, other important players in the Asia-Pacific region.

"China is a big country with a big capacity. Big countries generally demonstrate, we use the term in New Zealand, mana, which is about the standing, the one which they held in respect and with respect by others. By taking a forward leaning look it maintaining peace and stability but central to that it is having a very good bilateral and multi-lateral relations with nearby countries," said Derry Brownlee, New Zealand defense minister.

Sun will deliver a speech on Sunday themed "The Challenges of Conflict Resolution".

He will go into further detail on China's stance on international and regional security issues.