A Chinese military delegation visits London and Paris and discusses international security issues

The Chinese Ministry of Defense said today, Saturday, that a Chinese military delegation visited Britain and France between June 24 and July 1 to discuss ways to develop bilateral relations in the defense field.

The ministry added in a statement that the Chinese army’s strategic defense consultation delegation exchanged detailed views on international and regional security issues of common concern and the development of mutual understanding and trust.

In response to a question about the visit, a spokesman for the British Ministry of Defense said that it hosted the strategic defense dialogue with China in London.

“Discussions covered relevant national defense strategies, the situation in Ukraine, security in the Indo-Pacific region, strategic stability, proliferation, the South China Sea, Taiwan, and military relations between the United Kingdom and China,” the spokesperson said in a statement.

In a related context, officials said that British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly may visit China this month, as London seeks to improve relations with Beijing and engage with it in areas such as trade, investment and climate change, while protecting itself from threats to national security.