Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan left Beijing Tuesday for a tour to five Asian countries.

 

Cao, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and state councilor, is to pay an official and friendly visit to North Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea at the invitation of Kim Il-chol, minister of North Korean People's Armed Forces, Pham Van Tra, Vietnamese defense minister, Najib Tun Razak, Malaysia deputy prime minister and defense minister, Teo Chee Hean, Singaporean defense minister, and Yoon Kwang-ung, South Korean defense minister.

 

(Xinhua News Agency April 4, 2006)