Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday expressed Moscow’s openness to cooperation on defense with all countries that intend to protect their interests and development independently.
“Russia is open to deepening technological partnership and defense cooperation with other countries”Putin said in a video message to participants of the international military-technical forum “Army-2023”, quoted by the Russian agency TASS.
Without naming the possible partners, Putin pointed out that they have to believe that “it is crucial to make concerted efforts to build an equal and indivisible security system that reliably protects all countries”.
Defense cooperation will be developed with “all those who wish to protect national interests and their independent development path,” he said.
About 60 countries have confirmed their participation in this year’s forum, which opened Monday at the Patriot Congress and Exhibition Center in Moscow, according to Russia’s Defense Ministry.
Until Sunday, products from about 1,500 Russian companies linked to the military industry will be presented in an exhibition in which, according to TASS, 85 companies and foreign organizations from seven countries will be represented.
Bilateral meetings are planned between the leaders of the Russian armed forces and foreign partners, who will also participate in a “solid scientific and business program,” the agency said.
One of the guests is Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu, who left Beijing on Monday for Moscow, from where he will later visit Belarus.
“Between August 14 and 19, Li Shangfu will visit Russia, where he will participate in the 11th Moscow Conference on International Security, and Belarus”Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian said in a statement.
In addition to speaking at the forum, Li will also meet with Russian defense officials, he added.
The Russian Defense Ministry expected contracts worth more than 433 billion rubles (3.9 billion euros at current exchange rates) to be signed in the forum.
The state-owned company Rostec told TASS that the forum will present the latest Russian artillery systems, taking into account the experience of the war against Ukraine and the characteristics of NATO equipment seized by Ukrainian forces.
Western allies have armed Ukrainian troops to defend the country against the military invasion ordered by Putin on February 24, 2022.
According to TASS, the latest MiG-35 fighter will be on display at the defense show.
In the message, Putin also said that the forum’s business program was devoted to ways to diversify the defense industry and develop artificial intelligence technologies.
“Russia has a lot to offer in these promising areas. Our market for goods with artificial intelligence technologies continues to grow every year”he claimed.
He said the forum was recognized as one of the world’s largest exhibitions of military equipment and welcomed the “increasing number of foreign defense companies participating in the forum”.
“Last year 32 companies presented their products here and this year that number rises to 82″he declared.
Source: DN
