Chinese defence minister hails ‘sturdy’ Russia ties in Putin meeting

By Agence France-Presse: Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu has hailed ties with Moscow all through a gathering with Russian President Vladimir Putin inside the Kremlin.

“We have very strong ties. They surpass the military-political alliances of the Cold War era… They are very stable,” he talked about in translated remarks broadcast on Russian TV on Sunday.

He added that Russia-China ties have “already entered a new era”.

“This is my first overseas visit since taking over as China’s defence minister. I specifically chose Russia for this in order to emphasise the special nature and strategic importance of our bilateral ties,” Li talked about.

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In the meeting moreover attended by Russia’s Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, Putin welcomed military cooperation between Russia and China.

“We are also working actively through the military departments, regularly exchange useful information, cooperate in the field of military-technical cooperation, conduct joint exercises, ” Putin talked about.

“This is, undoubtedly, another important area that strengthens the exclusively trusting, strategic nature of our relations,” he added.

‘NEW ERA’

During two days of talks, Putin and Xi hailed a “new era” of their relationship and talked about Beijing’s proposals to complete the Ukraine battle.

Moscow and Beijing have over the earlier years ramped up cooperation, every pushed by a need to counterbalance US world dominance. Their partnership has solely grown nearer since Putin launched an offensive in Ukraine remaining February.

China has sought to portray itself as a neutral celebration inside the Ukraine battle, nonetheless Washington has accused Beijing of mulling arms exports to Moscow – claims China denied.

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