It's not that I don't like American cigarettes, I'm just not used to them," a Chinese officer told a U.S. marine major through an interpreter. The two were chatting after lunch during last week's joint Disaster Management Exchange at Joint Base Lewis-McChord that paired up U.S. troops with the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

It was a historic first - from the mundane such as cigarettes to the complex. Though the two Army's have previously held joint-training for humanitarian crises, including one on Hainan Island in January of this year, this is the first ground level training event on the American mainland (though not on American soil, one previous exchange took place on Oahu in 2013).

China and the United States are the world's two remaining military superpowers. Sometimes that leads to friction. Over the last year, the United States and China have clashed over access rights to the South China Sea.

But a recent state visit by Chinese President Xi Jinpeng, during which he visited Seattle and Tacoma, spurred renewed engagement and dialogue between the two powers.

"This exercise is a specific measure taken by the two sides to advance practical cooperation between us," said an unidentified Chinese officer during a joint press conference with Maj. Gen. Zhang Jian. He's the Commander of Hubei Provincial Military Region, where all of the Chinese troops that took part in the exercise's field portion came from.

Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza, Commanding General of I Corps and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, left, and Maj. Gen Zhang Jian, Commander, Hainan Provincial Military District, People’s Republic of China People’s Liberation Army held a press conference during the Disaster Management Exchange held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Nov. 20. Participation in the DME demonstrates the U.S. and PRC can coordinate their activities that enhance disaster and humanitarian response in the region to the benefit of the Indo-Asian Pacific. Photo credit: Sgt. Jasmine Higgins

"Have helped the two sides to understand more about each other, advance our cooperation, and to promote our collective abilities in response to natural disasters," Zhang said.

Whatever disagreements the countries may have, both recognize that natural disasters are a problem that both Washington and Beijing should be ready to cooperate on.

"What I saw were two professional militaries working together on things that we have in common such as dealing with disaster management, and the cooperation and skills that both militaries bring together," I Corps Commander Lt. Gen. Stephen Lanza said of the exercise.

The exchange was centered around a fictional scenario in which an earthquake ravaged a fictional island nation. Both American and Chinese troops showed each other techniques for rescuing trapped people by rubble and treating the injured.

"This has been one of the best, most fun experiences of my career" said Sgt. Leslie Peterson, a medic stationed at JBLM. She said she enjoyed working with the Chinese troops and learning about their culture.

U.S. Army soldiers and a People’s Republic of China’s People’s Liberation Army soldier work together to provide medical assistance to a simulated casualty during the Disaster Management Exchange on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Nov. 21. The DME is a U.S. Army Pacific-hosted exchange that’s focused on international humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenarios. Photo credit: Sgt. Jasmine Higgins

While soldiers trained in the field, officers from the two countries met in a simulated Multi-National Coordination Center where they practiced interagency planning, disaster planning and civil coordination. This exchange was far more complex than previous iterations.

"We want to add more to it, make it more complicated so that the more work we do on this end, the more prepared we are if an actual disaster were to happen," said Cpt. Mike Sim, a U.S. Coast Guard officer stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

"A relationship starts developing just based on skillsets, commonalities and a language between military professionals that we build on in the future," Lanza explained.

Servicemembers from the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force demonstrate ways to secure and evacuate casualties to their People’s Republic of China People’s Liberation Army counterparts during the Disaster Management Exchange held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Nov. 20. Participation in the DME demonstrates the U.S. and PRC can coordinate their activities that enhance disaster and humanitarian response in the region to the benefit of the Indo-Asian Pacific. Photo credit: Staff Sgt. Patricia McMurphy

A soldier with People’s Republic of China People’s Liberation Army displays rappelling equipment during the Disaster Management Exchange held at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Nov. 19. This is the 11th iteration of the DME, an annual U.S. Army Pacific-hosted exchange focused on humanitarian aide and disaster relief. Photo credit: Staff Sgt. Patricia McMurphy