A Chinese military research institute received a delegation of foreign defense attaches Thursday in Beijing, the first time the institute was opened to defense attaches.

"This is part of a program we have initiated for the defense attaches to learn more about the Chinese military research," said Zhou Bo, an official with the Foreign Affairs Office of Chinese Defense Ministry.

The delegation of 84 officers from 57 countries toured a research and development center and a trial manufacturing and testing site of the Beijing-based Quartermaster Equipment Institute of the General Logistics Department of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Founded in 1960, the institute is responsible for research, development and engineering of the bedding, individual equipment, field cooking equipment and combat rations of the Chinese military.

The attaches were introduced to a variety of innovative soldier-support equipment, including self-heating food packages, thermal materials and improved uniforms.

Zhou Guotai, president of the institute, briefed the visitors about the institute and answered their questions.

According to Zhou, part of the emergency relief materials China offered to tsunami-ravaged countries early this year were developed by this institute.

"It's a symbol of China's opening up and growing confidence to show this facility to other countries," said JKS Virk, Indian deputy defense attache in China.

Lajos Racz, a Hungarian defense attache and dean of the Beijing Military Attache Corps, voiced his satisfaction with this tour. He said the opening of the institute would "help promote foreign officers' understanding and trust of Chinese army and enhance friendships."

In the past few years, foreign defense attaches have been organized to visit Chinese military academies and research institutes and to watch China's military exercises.