Russia’s defence chief hails ‘common understanding’ with China
Andrey Belousov met senior commanders and officials in Beijing, where he was told China is ready to deepen and expand military ties
China and Russia have “a common understanding of what needs to be done”, Moscow’s new defence minister said during a trip to Beijing, where he met top Chinese generals.
During his Tuesday meeting with Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of China’s top command body the Central Military Commission, Belousov said: “The Defence Ministries of Russia and China are united in their assessments of global processes, and they have a common understanding of what needs to be done in the current situation”.
According to Russian news agency Tass, Zhang said: “China is ready to deepen and expand military ties with Russia and maintain close high-level exchanges between the two countries.”
This includes working together to “maintain international cooperation, regional peace and stability”, he added.
Zhang, China’s most senior military officer, also said relations between the two countries “have reached the highest level in history” and said this year’s 75th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic ties was a “new starting point”.
The Soviet Union was the first country to formally recognise the People’s Republic, a day after it was founded on October 1, 1949.
