China-LatAm military exchanges 'standard practice'

(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-11-18 07:35

Military exchanges between Beijing and Latin America are not targeted at any third party, nor will they endanger the interests of any country, a senior military official said on Sunday.

Qian Lihua, director of the foreign affairs office of the Ministry of National Defense, was speaking ahead of Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xu Caihou's departure on Sunday on official visits to Venezuela, Chile and Brazil.

Xu will meet with state leaders and defense ministers of the three countries and visit military institutes, Qian said.

"Such exchanges between China and Latin American countries are entirely normal between armed forces.

"In military exchanges with Latin America, China has always firmly adhered to the principle of benefiting regional and global peace and stability, never targeting any third party and never endangering the interests of other countries," he said.

Xu's "important diplomatic activity", comes 10 days after Beijing issued its first ever policy paper on Latin America and the Caribbean region that mapped out a blueprint for future cooperation between the two sides, Qian said.

The paper said China will promote military exchanges and defense dialogue with Latin America, expand cooperation in non-traditional security fields and continue offering assistance to the militaries of Latin American countries.

China has already carried out military exchanges with 18 Latin American countries, Qian said.

"The military exchanges and cooperation are an important part of China's relationship with Latin America, and play a positive role in promoting its development," he said.

China Daily-Xinhua