Defence Minister AK Antony leaves New Delhi on Thursday on a 4-day official visit to the People’s Republic of China.

He will be accompanied by a high level delegation including Defence Secretary R K Mathur; GOC-in-C, Eastern Command, Lt General Dalbir Singh; FOC-in-C, Southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral Satish Soni and other officers of MoD and the armed forces.

The last visit of an Indian defence minister to China had taken place in 2006 when Pranab Mukherjee had visited that country.

During the visit, Antony will have formal delegation-level talks with his counterpart, State Councillor and the Minister of National Defence of the PRC, General Chang Wanquan.

Both ministers are expected to discuss a number of issues, including those related to maintenance of peace and tranquillity on the border; exchanges and interactions between the armed forces of both sides and matters relating to regional and global security.