Chinese Minister of National Defense Cao Gangchuan left Beijing Monday for an official goodwill visit to the Russian Federation.  

Cao, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC)and a state councilor, is paying the visit at the invitation of Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Ivanov.

Cao's entourages include Li Jinai, a CMC member and director-general of the General Armament Department and Qian Shugen, deputy chief of the General Staff of Chinese People's Liberation Army, among others.

(Xinhua News Agency December 16, 2003)