Beijing: China will have a new Defence Minister with the incumbent, General Cao Gangchuan retiring from the powerful Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC)  Gen.

Cao's name was not in the list of members elected to the 17th Central Committee of the CPC, indicating that he would retire from the post. Cao is currently vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, the top military organ, state councillor (equivalent to cabinet minister) and Defence Minister, leading the 2.3 million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA), the world's largest standing force.

Cao had visited India in March 2004 and he had also hosted his then Indian counterpart, Pranab Muhkerjee in Beijing in May this year, laying the ground for increased military-to-military cooperation between the two Asian giants. In his speech at the opening of the week-long 17th National Congress of the CPC, Chinese President and CPC General Secretary, Hu Jintao had reassured the world that China has "unswervingly" adopted the strategic path of "peaceful development" and will never seek hegemony or expansion.

"China will unswervingly follow the path of peaceful development," Hu said, emphasising that China follows a defence policy that is defensive in nature. "China follows a national defence policy that is defensive in nature, and it does not engage in arms race or pose a military threat to any other country. China opposes all forms of hegemonism and power politics and will never seek hegemony or engage in expansion," He said.

Source : PTI