MOSCOW, Nov 23 - RIA Novosti. Russia and China are increasing the intensity of joint combat training, the military of the two countries interact on land, at sea and in the air, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said, calling joint maritime patrols in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, flights of combat aircraft of the two countries over the Japanese and East China Seas important events.
"Important events were the maritime patrol in the northwestern Pacific Ocean and the next air patrol of strategic missile carriers of the Russian Aerospace Forces and bombers of the People's Liberation Army Air Force in the airspace over the waters of the Japanese and East China Seas. Today we will sum up the results of these events and discuss plans for the coming year," Shoigu said during a working meeting with the head of the Military department of the People's Republic of China Wei Fenghe, which took place on Tuesday in the format of a videoconference.
Shoigu proposed to hear the commanders-in-chief of the Russian Navy and the Russian Aerospace Forces, the commanders of the Chinese Navy and Air Force on the results of joint actions, as well as their proposals for further cooperation. At the same time, he noted that Russia and China are increasing the intensity of joint combat training, the military of the two countries "interact on land, at sea and in the air."
"Our armed forces interact on land, at sea and in the air. The number of operational and combat training events is growing," Shoigu said, noting that this year for the first time a joint operational and strategic exercise was held on the territory of China "Sibu/Interaction-2021".
He stressed that the "trusting and friendly relations" of the two heads of state "guarantee the stability of the Russian-Chinese tandem even during a pandemic."
"I am grateful for the attention you pay to the development of military cooperation between our countries. In a difficult epidemiological situation caused by the spread of coronavirus infection, we continue to cooperate fruitfully, trying to give more practical orientation to joint activities," Shoigu said, addressing Wei Fenghe. He invited his colleague to exchange views on the prospects for cooperation in 2022.
"I am convinced that today's meeting will serve to develop relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China," the Russian Defense Minister said.
