BEIJING - A senior Chinese general said Thursday China will welcome a visit by US defense chief Robert Gates at a time appropriate to both sides. Replicas Matt Forte Jersey . We welcome his visit to China at a time workable for both sides, General Ma Xiaotian, deputy chief of general staff of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), said after being asked if it is possible for Gates to visit China in coming months. Gates was scheduled to visit China in 2010, in accordance with a China- US joint communique signed last November when US President Barack Obama visited Beijing. The joint communique also outlined other important military exchange programs in 2010, including a visit to Beijing by Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen and a visit to Washington by Chief of General Staff of the Chinese PLA Chen Bingde. But in January, China cut off some military exchanges with the US following the Pentagons decision to sell a nearly $6.4-billion arms package to Taiwan, an inalienable part of China. Subsequently, none of the planned high-level visits between the two militaries have been possible over the last six months. The last US military official to visit China was Robert Willard, chief of the US Pacific Command. He came to China in late May as a member of US delegation to the second Strategic and Economic Dialogue between the two countries. Gates complained at a security forum in Singapore in early June about Chinas dismissal of his request to visit Beijing during his Asia tour, saying Beijings attitude makes little sense. In response, Ma reiterated the major obstacles hampering growth of China-US military ties. Ma said an improvement in military ties depends on the United States respecting Chinas core interests and major concerns. He urged the United States to be sincere about sensitive issues, including arms sale to Taiwan and US naval ships and aircrafts reconnaissance missions in Chinese waters. Ma also urged the US to create favorable conditions for the restoration and growth of bilateral military ties. New York Rangers Mark Messier Jersey .S. Open tune-up. The unseeded Safarova, who upended third-seeded fellow Czech Iveta Benesova in the semifinal, breezed past Peng 6-4, 6-2 to claim the $22,000 first prize. Patriots Jersey . The seventh-seeded Jankovic downed 15th seed Li Na of China, 6-4, 6-3, while Sharapova took out 11th seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4 Friday on the hardcourts at Ariake Colosseum. New York Jets Brett Favre Jersey . The nuclear envoy of the Republic of Korea (ROK) expressed pessimism yesterday. Kim Sook, who leads the ROK delegation, was to meet his US and Japanese counterparts later yesterday to lay the groundwork for the latest round of talks scheduled to start today. Authentic Tom Brady Jersey Patriots . That doesnt make this series any less important. First-place Philadelphia will look to match a season-high with an eighth straight victory and pad its three-game advantage over Atlanta, which aims for a fourth consecutive win this evening at Citizens Bank Park. Albert Haynesworth Jersey . Cui Yong, captain of the Guangdong marine archaeological group, said on Thursday that his group is ready to restart the salvage work of the Nanao No 1, a vessel that sank in the late Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) in the South China Sea. San Francisco 49ers Frank Gore Jersey . With a replay on TSN 2 Thursday at 12:30am et. Led by nine-time MLS All-Star Landon Donovan of the LA Galaxy, this years MLS All-Star team is a mix of veteran superstars and rising young talent and some Canadian content.  Real Salt Lake forward, and Toronto native, Will Johnson will suit up for the MLS All-Stars and play in front of his home crowd in Utah. Raiders Rolando McClain Jersey . The revamped club will set its sights on a second straight victory over the Kansas City Royals, wholl be out to put an end to a five-game losing streak in tonights clash between the teams from Kauffman Stadium.Flyers Pronger Jersey . Carter, acquired from Boston in the Billy Wagner trade last summer, made Tyler Clippard (6-1) a loser for the first time this season, doubling home Alex Cora during New Yorks rally in the eighth. Raul Valdes (1-0) picked up the win with a scoreless frame for the Mets, who snapped a two-game skid.LEXINGTON, Ky. - Curlin, twice the horse of the year in the U.S., has produced his first foal. A statement Friday from Lanes End Farm where the stallion lives says the filly out of the broodmare Zophie was born Tuesday at Burleson Farms near Midway, Ky. Curlins winnings of US$10.5-million passed Cigar to make him North Americas richest racehorse in history. His career includes wins at the Preakness Stakess, Jockey Club Classic, Stephen Foster Handicap and Dubai World Cup. Rangers Stepan Jersey. Curlins value as a stallion became a subject of a civil case brought against his original owners, lawyers William Gallion and Shirley Cunningham Jr. They have been sentenced to decades in federal prison and ordered to pay $127 million in restitution for defrauding hundreds of clients in a diet-drug settlement. ' ' '