Foreign and Military Affairs

Israel defence minister to visit China for 1st time in decade

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-06-12 07:30

JERUSALEM - Israel Defence Minister Ehud Barak will travel to China for the first time in a decade, his office said on Saturday.

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Barak will meet Chinese National Defence Minister Liang Guanglie and other senior officials to discuss "regional issues, the Iranian threat, advancement of the (Israel-Palestinian) peace process and terrorism," a statement from his office said.

In 2000 Israel, under United States pressure, suspended the sale to Beijing of four $250 million advanced early warning Phalcon aircraft, similar to US AWACS planes.

Barak, who served as prime minister of Israel during the Phalcon dispute, was scheduled to travel to China late on Saturday, his office said.