The Chinese and U.S. militaries are getting to know each other better, even as tensions rise across the Asia-Pacific region.

Officers from the two countries completed a joint exercise Friday in Chengdu with the goal of finding ways to better coordinate a response to a natural disaster.

The United States and China have spoken several times about disaster relief, but this was the first time officers from both sides discussed a joint response.

This week's exercise came amid continuing tensions over territorial disputes in the South China Sea involving China and several other countries in the region.

China has also been busy building up its military while Washington has been focused on what its calls rebalancing, sending more troops and equipment to the Asian-Pacific region.