Defense Minister Li as a guest
Putin praises “military cooperation” with China
04/16/2023 9:29 p.m
Amid the discussions about Beijing’s position on the Ukraine war, China’s Defense Minister Li Shangfu is traveling to Russia. At a meeting with President Putin, there were words of praise – on both sides.
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the military cooperation between the two countries during a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu. “Our military departments actively cooperate, regularly exchange useful information, cooperate in the field of military-technical cooperation and hold joint exercises,” Putin said during the meeting in Moscow.
There have been exercises by ground, sea and air forces in the Far East and in Europe. “This is undoubtedly another key area that reinforces the highly trusting, strategic nature of our relationship.” Relations between the two countries are developing well, Putin said. This affects the economy, the social, cultural, educational and military areas.
According to a translation by the Kremlin, Li said the military and military-technical cooperation between the two countries has been developing very well recently. This contributes to strengthening regional security. The meeting was also attended by Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. China announced Li’s visit to Russia last week. There was talk of a meeting with representatives of the Defense Ministry, but no meeting with Putin was announced.
China wants to remain neutral
Chinese President Xi Jinping met Putin in Moscow in March. Both countries have expanded economic, political and military ties since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. According to its own statements, China is not supplying any weapons to Russia. Meanwhile, a Ukrainian official said on Friday that Ukrainian forces were finding more and more Chinese components in Russian weapons deployed in Ukraine. The information cannot be independently verified.
Western states accuse Beijing of tacitly supporting Moscow in view of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine. China says it sees itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict. Xi has not yet condemned the Russian offensive in the neighboring country or spoken to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During her visit to China on Friday, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock asked the leadership in Beijing to exert their influence on Russia. Germany would like “China to act on Russia to finally end its aggression,” she said.