China and Russia Strengthen Military Ties in Beijing Meeting
Zhang Shengmin and Andrei Belousov met in Beijing to bolster military cooperation and strategic communication ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Vice Chair of China’s Central Military Commission Zhang Shengmin met with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov in Beijing on Tuesday to strengthen military ties and strategic communication. The meeting served as Zhang's first public appearance with a foreign official following his appointment to the Communist Party's Politburo last week.
Zhang stated that China and Russia have entered a "new stage of greater achievement and faster development," and expressed a desire to increase mutual trust to protect the sovereignty and security interests of both countries. Belousov described the partnership as having reached "an unprecedentedly high level," noting that the relationship is driven by the personal contacts between Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin.
The diplomatic encounter takes place shortly before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen, scheduled for November 18-19. Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump are both expected to attend the summit.
