EU, China to hold first dialogue on security, defence

Soldiers from China and the EU attend a joint anti-piracy drill in March, 2014. [Photo/Chinanews.com]??

BRUSSELS, Oct 8 -- The European Union and China will hold their first dialogue on security and defence in Beijing on Thursday, according to an EU press release issued Wednesday.

It is the first mission of its kind and was arranged when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Europe last March.

"It was agreed on that occasion - based on the good cooperation so far - to raise the level of EU-China dialogue and cooperation on defence and security," a press release stated.

General Patrick de Rousiers, chairman of the EU military committee, will travel to Beijing to hold the dialogue. He is expected to meet with Chinese defence minister Chang Wanquan and chief of general staff Fang Fenghui. De Rousiers is also scheduled to give a speech at PLA National Defence University and participate in a roundtable discussion with Chinese experts.

This initiative is part of the implementation of the EU-China 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation agreed by both sides at the 2013 EU-China Summit, the press release said.