Defense minister's trip to Russia marks first overseas destination

The visit to Russia by China's defense minister will demonstrate the high-level development of bilateral relations and send a signal of upholding global peace and stability, experts said on Friday.

State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu will pay an official visit to Russia from Sunday to Wednesday at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a Defense Ministry spokesman, on Friday afternoon.

The visit will be the first overseas trip by Li after he became minister of national defense at the annual session of the National People's Congress in March.