China's Defense Ministry says a delegation of high-ranking officials will visit South Korea for the first bilateral strategic defense dialogue.

The ministry said the delegation led by General Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, will first visit Japan beginning Monday and then travel to South Korea.

The ministry says that in Seoul, the talks will be held with the South Korean military. It added that the delegation, while in both Korea and Japan, will discuss regional security, bilateral defense exchange and other mutual concerns.