BEIJING - The Chinese defense department and army will actively carry out exchanges and communication with foreign countries next year, Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said here Wednesday.

This year's military exchanges and cooperation with foreign countries were conducted in a comprehensive, multi-faceted and multi-level way, and positively contributed to China's diplomacy and the modernization of its armed forces, Yang said at a press conference.

He said China's military diplomacy enjoys an active, pragmatic and efficient momentum and sees frequent high-level contacts with foreign countries.

According to Yang, China in 2011 received more than 50 major foreign military delegations.

China also held defense consultations and security talks with eleven countries this year, including Russia, Pakistan, Turkey, Germany, the United States and India.

In 2011, China's armed forces conducted eight joint drills or training with the army from countries such as Indonesia, Belarus and Venezuela, and carried out emergency rescue and relief work in seven countries, including Japan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and Thailand, he said.

Yang said this year the Chinese army actively took part in dialogue within multi-lateral frameworks, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization

The Chinese army also participated in a UN peacekeeping operation, escort mission in the Gulf of Aden, and sent a naval hospital ship for a four-country Latin American visit, he added.