Lieutenant General Peter Leahy left at the weekend and was scheduled to hold talks beginning Wednesday with senior Chinese officials on regional and bilateral security issues.

"It is an opportunity to discuss future directions for the Australia-China defense relationship and to establish personal contact with the new leadership of the People's Liberation Army," Leahy said in a statement.

"Defense is focused on regular high-level dialogue on strategic and regional security issues with China, along with other countries, to ensure the security, stability and prosperity of both the immediate Asia-Pacific region, and the wider international environment," he said.

An Australian defense white paper issued in 2000 identified China as the country with the fastest growing security influence in the region, and an increasingly important strategic interlocutor.

"Australia's defense relationship with China has expanded significantly over the past six years," Leahy said.

The Australian general was making a courtesy call in Singapore en route for China, his spokesman said.

WAR.WIRE