Sergey Shoygu (Photo: AFP/Alexander Nemenov)
Eurasia
17/08/2023 22:37
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoygu on Tuesday praised China as "a strategic partner, good neighbor and loyal friend" of Moscow, according to Anadolu Agency. Speaking at a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu on the sidelines of the MCIS, Shoygu said Moscow and Beijing maintain contacts at the highest level, carry out joint military exercises of ground, navy and air forces.
Shoygu said cooperation with China is developing both in bilateral and multilateral formats -- within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Association of South East Asian Nations Plus (ASEAN-Plus). He thanked Shangfu for taking part in the MCIS and Army-2023 military-technical forum, which began on Monday. The minister said "a big, serious step has been taken since the previous exhibition, where the products of the Chinese industry were also widely presented."
Li Shangfu said on Tuesday that the goal of the cooperation between his country and Russia is not to be against any third country. "The Sino-Russian relations of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation, entering a new era, continue to develop steadily. Sino-Russian relations in the military sphere set an example of an alliance, rejection of antagonism and non-direction against third countries," Li stated.
In today's world, all countries are interconnected with each other in order to achieve and maintain peace requires joint efforts, so that no one can stay away. We call on the countries of the world to preserve peace and protect it, and to reveal an active role in maintaining security and stability throughout the world and thus contribute to the formation of a more just and rational international order, he stressed.
