BEIJING, March 26 (Xinhua) -- China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will hold a dialogue meeting on defense and security matters in Beijing from March 29 to 31, China's National Defense Ministry said Friday.

Officials and scholars from the two sides will discuss regional defense and security issues during the dialogue sponsored by the Academy of Military Sciences of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

The academy hosted China-ASEAN dialogues on defense issues in 2008 and 2009 to deepen exchanges and promote mutual trust.