China-France Seminar on Defense and Security for Senior Defense Officials opened in Beijing Saturday afternoon. 

More than 10 officers from the French army, navy and air force attended the 10-day seminar hosted by the Chinese Defense Ministry.

The seminar offers an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on international and regional security situations and helps advance military cooperation between the two countries, according to a senior Chinese defense official.

Noted experts and scholars from the Chinese Defense Ministry, Military Academy of Sciences of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Chinese Foreign Ministry and other institutions will give lectures on international and regional situations, Sino-European relations, international counter-terrorism and regional cooperation.

French officers will also pay a visit to Qingdao in east China's Shandong Province, Xi'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and Shanghai. They will visit military projects and be briefed on military issues.

In 2003, some 20 Chinese defense officials were invited to attend the first China-France Seminar on Defense and Security held in Paris.

(Xinhua News Agency November 21, 2004)