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China's defense minister leaves for Russia visit

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-25 18:59

BEIJING -- Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie left here Saturday for Russia on an official goodwill visit.

Liang, a state councilor, will also attend the defense ministers' meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) slated for Tuesday and Wednesday in Moscow.

Liang is visiting at the invitation of Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov, according to China's defense ministry.

The SCO, founded in Shanghai in 2001, comprises six member countries:  China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It pledges to enhance security, trade, cultural, military and justice cooperation among member countries.