Beijing calls on Barack Obama to build a stronger military relationship with China.

China has called for a stronger military relationship with the US.

"In this new period we hope that both China and the US could make joint efforts to create favourable conditions," a defence spokesman said.

Colonel Hu Changming, of China's Ministry of Defence, told reporters China hoped to "improve and promote military-to-military relations".

Colonel Hu's comments come as incoming US president Barack Obama is about to be sworn in to office.

China released its annual defence survey on Tuesday which noted a general improvement in China's security situation in 2008.

The US has been concerned in the past by the extent of China's military spending, which increased 18% last year, according to official figures.

China's defence report pinpointed what it called the threat of separatism in Tibet, Taiwan and Xinjiang.

It also expressed concern about how the deteriorating world economic situation might affect security, saying "issues such as energy and food are becoming more serious, highlighting deep-seated contradictions".