Gerasimov held talks with Chief of the Joint Staff of China Liu Zhenli

Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov spent negotiations via video conference with the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Central Military Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Liu Zhenli. Valery Gerasimov noted that the efforts of the two countries have “a stabilizing effect on the situation in the world” and invited his Chinese colleague to visit Russia at “any convenient time.”

“An example is the joint military exercises both on a bilateral basis and within the framework of the SCO and SMOA Plus, which contribute to the deepening of positive contacts in the defense sphere. The practice of conducting joint measures of operational and combat training of the armed forces of Russia and China should remain an important area of ​​further activity,” said the Chief of the Russian General Staff.

Valery Gerasimov congratulated Liu Zhenli on his appointment to the post of Chief of the Chinese Joint Staff, which he took in March. “I am convinced that your great experience will contribute both to the development of the armed forces of the PRC and to the expansion of military cooperation between our countries,” he added.

Mr. Gerasimov also drew attention to the April visit of Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu to Moscow, which, according to him, was of great importance for the development of cooperation in the defense sphere between the two countries. “We highly appreciate the fact that after being appointed as the first country for his foreign trip, Li Shangfu chose Russia, as did Chinese President Xi Jinping,” he said.

Li Shangfu visited Moscow on April 16. During the visit, he held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. The head of state said that relations between Russia and China are developing well, including through the military. The head of the Chinese Ministry of Defense noted that Russia and China continue cooperation “in the interests of the development and prosperity of the whole world.”

Read more about the visit of the Chinese Minister of Defense to Moscow in the material “Kommersant” “So Sergey Shoigu and Li Shangfu met.”

Milena Kostereva