What’s new: China is willing to work with Russia in responding to security threats while jointly “safeguarding global strategic balance and stability,” a senior Chinese military official said at a defense conference in Beijing this week.
Central Military Commission Vice Chairman Zhang Youxia made the remark during a meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum Monday.
The two countries’ militaries have “exhibited strong development momentum,” Zhang said, according to a statement from China’s Ministry of National Defense.
Shoigu said the meeting with Zhang contributed to deepening ties between the defense ministries of Beijing and Moscow and “will serve to strengthen regional and global security,” according to a Russian Defense Ministry statement.
The background: Russian President Vladimir Putin visited China mid-October where he attended the Belt and Road Forum as one of the chief guests and met with President Xi Jinping. In March, Xi paid a state visit to Russia.
The Beijing Xiangshan Forum is an Asia-Pacific security dialogue initiated in 2006 and co-hosted by the China Association of Military Science and China Institute of International Strategic Studies. This year’s event was attended by over 1,800 guests, including defense ministers of 19 countries and military chiefs of 14 countries, the state-owned Xinhua News Agency reported.
Contact reporter Kelly Wang (jingzhewang@caixin.com) and editor Bertrand Teo (bertrandteo@caixin.com)
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