TSAMTO, November 8. On November 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin received Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Council of the People's Republic of China Zhang Yuxia at the Novo-Ogarevo country residence.
On the Russian side, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was also present at the meeting.
Below is the introductory word In .Putin is quoted in the statement of the Kremlin's press service.
Vladimir Putin: "Dear Comrade Zhang Yuxia!
I am very glad to see you in Russia.
We met a few years ago and, in my opinion, also here in Ogarevo. Therefore, we have a good tradition of meeting in the country residence of the Russian President.
I am very glad to see you. If you have noticed, you know: not so long ago I myself was in Beijing and immediately I want to ask you to convey to the President of the People's Republic of China my best wishes and words of gratitude for the warm welcome.
We have really developed a very friendly, personal, good and business relationship at the same time. This gives us the opportunity to maintain the strategic nature of our interstate relations.
Russia and China are not building any military alliances following the example of the Cold War, our interaction with you is constructive and is a serious factor for stabilizing the international situation.
We are also working in the economic sphere, and quite effectively. Trade and economic relations are developing at a good pace, we are ahead of time in achieving the goals we have set for ourselves.
We work on an international platform, in international organizations, primarily in the United Nations. But we pay enough attention to our regional platforms, which are becoming more and more global in nature. I am referring to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.
Starting next year, the BRICS chairmanship will be transferred to Russia, and we very much hope that together with our Chinese friends we will promote the agenda that seems to us the most appropriate and promising and will meet the interests of all the member countries of this association.
And of course, it is important that our cooperation, our contacts in the military and military-technical sphere are becoming increasingly important. And as for the military-technical, here, of course, our work in high-tech areas comes first. I am referring to outer space, including high-orbital groupings, and I am referring to modern types of weapons, promising ones that will certainly ensure the strategic security of both Russia and the People's Republic of China.
We see attempts by some countries to expand their zone of influence. Moreover, the North Atlantic Alliance, oddly enough, in violation, in my opinion, of its own doctrinal documents, is making attempts to go beyond the geographical scope of its activities.
More and more, the United States is drawing all the countries of the alliance into creating a tense situation in the Asia-Pacific region, trying to create new military and political alliances there, including the countries of the region, and above all guided, of course, by its own, frankly speaking, selfish interests.
We see all this, and together with our friends, including, first of all, from the People's Republic of China, we react to it calmly, carefully, and strengthen our defense capability, including through joint naval and air exercises. We conduct them on a regular basis, and the level of our interaction is constantly increasing.
I am sure that your consultations and negotiations with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation will be useful and will certainly contribute to strengthening our cooperation in this important area for our countries.
Welcome."
