Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu emphasized the “very strong ties” between Beijing and Moscow on Sunday during a meeting at the Kremlin with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We have very strong ties that go beyond the politico-military alliances of the Cold War” and are “very stable”. emphasized Li Shangfu at the meeting, which was broadcast on Russian television, according to his translation quoted by Agence France-Presse.
The Chinese minister, who recently took office, added that relations between Russia and China have “already entered a new era”.
“This is my first visit abroad since I took office as Defense Minister. I have specifically chosen Russia to emphasize the special nature and strategic importance of our bilateral relationship.added Li Shangfu.
At the meeting, which was also attended by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Vladimir Putin praised the military cooperation between the two countries.
“We actively work through military branches, regularly exchange useful information, cooperate in military-technical cooperation and conduct joint exercises”underlined the Russian head of state.
Li Shangfu’s trip to Russia, which will last until Wednesday, comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow in March, a summit that served for the two countries’ presidents to present themselves as determined strategic allies to push for US hegemony. to resist.
Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, Beijing has claimed to be officially neutral, but has never condemned the Russian invasion.
Source: DN
