Military outreach gets new emphasis

A meeting to consider the military's foreign affairs work mapped out a blueprint for military diplomacy for the next decade, with a focus on fostering ties with major countries and neighboring regions.

Observers said neighboring countries would top the military diplomacy agenda, which is designed to reduce risks of misjudgments and allay concerns about China's rapidly growing military strength.

The results of the meeting, held on Friday and Saturday in Beijing, closely followed President Xi Jinping's recent remarks that military exchanges would play a bigger role in China's diplomacy, which has begun to shape international rules.