Top Chinese military official visits Moscow

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu walks with Gen. Zhang Youxia, China’s second-ranking military official. Pic/AP

A senior Chinese military official held talks in Moscow Wednesday, praising strong ties between the countries during a visit that underlined growing cooperation between them.

Gen. Zhang Youxia, China's second-ranking military official and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that relations between Russia and China are "at the highest level in the new epoch." He said they "invariably support each other on issues of fundamental interest and key concerns."

Beijing had declared that it had a "no-limits" friendship with Russia. It denounced Western sanctions against Moscow, and accused NATO and the US of provoking Russia's military action in Ukraine, despite projecting itself as neutral. Russia, in turn, has continuously voiced support for Beijing on Taiwan.

Speaking during the talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Zhang hailed a "model of strategic trust and mutually beneficial cooperation" between Moscow and Beijing, and noted that his visit is intended to help further promote military cooperation. Putin is set to meet with Zhang later Wednesday, according to the Kremlin.

Shoigu said that defense cooperation between Russia and China isn't aimed at third countries. "Unlike certain aggressive Western countries, we are not going to create a military bloc," he said, adding that mutual ties "set an example of strategic interaction based on trust and respect."

Oct 17
Day Russia's Vladimir Putin visited China