(Reuters) – Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his Chinese counterpart on Tuesday that their countries’ military cooperation was a “stabilising” force in the world and helped to reduce the chances of conflict, Russian news agencies reported.
China has emerged as Russia’s most important international partner in the 14 months since Moscow invaded Ukraine. Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu is currently in Moscow as the countries look to deepen their military cooperation, which has raised concerns in the West.
“The coordination of our efforts in the international arena has a stabilising effect on the global situation and helps to reduce the potential for conflict,” the Interfax news agency quoted Shoigu as telling Li on Tuesday.
Li met President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.
Shoigu said it was important that the two countries coordinated their efforts on the global stage, and expressed confidence that a programme of joint military exercises would be expanded.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Moscow last month in a show of support for Putin, days after the International Criminal Court called for the Russian leader’s arrest on suspicion of war crimes in Ukraine.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
