Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan left Beijing on Saturday afternoon for official goodwill visits to Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Belarus.

Cao is invited by his counterparts of the four European nations, including Bulgarian Minister of Defence Veselin Bliznakov, Hungarian Minister of Defense Szekeres Imre, Romanian Minister of National Defence Teodor Atanasiu and Minister of Defense of Belarus Leonid Maltsev.

During the visits, Cao, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and state councilor, will meet with leaders and senior governmental officials of the four nations, and hold discussions with his counterparts on international and regional situation, bilateral relations and military ties between China and these countries, as well as other issues of mutual concern.

He will also visit the armed forces and military academies of the four countries.

Source: Xinhua