Military visits show goodwill to neighbors

BEIJING - China will send its defense minister to an Asian regional security forum for the first time next week as growing numbers of high-ranking Chinese military officers visit Southeast Asian countries in territorial disputes with Beijing.

Though planned long ago or following international meeting schedules, the visits still show Beijing's goodwill toward its neighbors, Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng said on Wednesday.

Defense Minister Liang Guanglie will lead a delegation to attend the 10th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Asian Security Summit, also known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, from June 3 to 5 in Singapore, Geng announced at the ministry's monthly news conference.