In late December, China and India launched their first joint military exercise in Kunming.

In November, missile destroyer Shenzhen dropped anchor off Tokyo Bay, the first time a People's Liberation Army (PLA) ship has called at a Japanese port.

In early November, China and the US agreed to open a direct military link between the two defense ministries when US Defense Secretary Robert Gates visited China.

In October, China, Australia and the New Zealand launched joint marine rescue exercises in the South Pacific.

In September, Chinese armed police conducted a three-day joint anti-terrorism drill with their Russian counterparts near Moscow.

China and France launched their first joint naval exercise "China-France Friendship 2007" in the Mediterranean Sea off the southern French port city of Toulon.

In late August, Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan paid a goodwill visit to Japan, the first by a Chinese defense minister since 1998.

In August, the PLA participated in the joint anti-terrorism drill held by the six members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization codenamed "Peace Mission 2007" in Russia.

On July 24, missile destroyer Guangzhou started a three-month cruise to Russia, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2008)