Moscow. June 9th. INTERFAX-AVN - Coordination of the efforts of Moscow and Beijing has a stabilizing effect on the international situation, said the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov.
"The coordination of the efforts of Russia and the People's Republic of China in the international arena has a stabilizing effect on the situation in the world," he said during videoconference talks with Liu Zhenli, chief of the Joint Staff of the Central Military Council of China.
"The practice of conducting joint operational and combat training activities of the armed Forces of Russia and China should remain an important area of further activity," Gerasimov said.
"I am convinced that today's talks will serve to further strengthen the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership in the defense sector," Gerasimov said, quoted by the Russian Defense Ministry on Friday.
Gerasimov invited his Chinese counterpart to visit Russia.
"I am convinced that your extensive experience will contribute both to the development of the armed forces of the People's Republic of China and to the expansion of military cooperation between our countries," said Liu Zhenli Gerasimov.
According to him, the visit of Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu to Moscow in April was important for the development of cooperation in the defense sphere.
"We highly appreciate the fact that after being appointed to the post, Colonel-General Li Shangfu chose Russia as the first country for his foreign trip, as did Chinese President Xi Jinping, who visited our country on a state visit in March," Gerasimov said.
According to him, the leaders of Russia and China confirmed that "the Russian-Chinese comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation are at the highest level."
"Against the background of the ongoing world events, the decisions taken form long-term goals in the field of national development and security, which were fixed in the joint statement of our leaders, including issues of deepening military cooperation," Gerasimov said.
He said that the deepening of contacts in the defense sphere is facilitated by joint military exercises on a bilateral basis, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and SMOA Plus.
On June 7, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that strategic aircraft of Russia and China conducted joint patrols in the Asia-Pacific region, while Russian aviation used a Chinese airfield.
"An air group consisting of strategic missile carriers Tu-95MS of the Russian Aerospace Forces and strategic bombers Hun-6K of the PLA Air Force carried out air patrols over the waters of the Japanese and East China Seas, the western part of the Pacific Ocean. The duration of the joint flight of Russian and Chinese aircraft was about 8 hours," the Russian Defense Ministry said on June 7.
"The event was held as part of the implementation of the provisions of the military cooperation plan for 2023 and is not directed against third countries," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Since 2019, Russia and China have been regularly conducting joint patrolling of the airspace in the Asia-Pacific region by strategic aircraft. In addition, Moscow and Beijing are conducting naval exercises.
Russia is conducting a number of military exercises with China, this is a reaction to the US military buildup in the Asia-Pacific region, Gerasimov said in December 2022.
"This cooperation is a natural reaction to the aggressive build-up of the US military potential in the region. At the same time, we are not going to create any alliances and new dividing lines in the region, following the example of Washington. We conduct the exercises in strict accordance with international law," Gerasimov said at the time.
