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China-Russia relations
ChinaMilitary

China and Russia to bolster defence ties to counter risks

Call marks first ministerial-level exchange between Beijing and Moscow since US raid on Venezuela and Trump’s stronger words on Greenland

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Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun and his Russian counterpart Andrei Belousov inspect an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony in Beijing in October 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE
Meredith Chen
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun urged closer strategic coordination between Beijing and Moscow and bolstering joint capacity to respond to risks and challenges in a video call with his Russian counterpart on Tuesday.

Dong told Andrei Belousov that Beijing was willing to “enrich the substance of cooperation, improve communication and exchange mechanisms, jointly enhance the ability to respond to various risks and challenges and work hand in hand to inject positive energy into global security and stability,” according to a statement released by the Ministry of Defence.

Belousov said Moscow was willing to deepen practical cooperation in areas such as joint operations and personnel training as well as promote bilateral strategic coordination to a higher level to better safeguard their shared interests, according to the Chinese read-out.

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The call marked the first ministerial-level exchange between the two countries since the American military’s raid on Venezuela ordered by US President Donald Trump earlier this month and Trump’s stronger words advocating Washington’s acquisition of Greenland.
The dialogue also took place days after Beijing put its highest-ranking military general, Zhang Youxia, under investigation amid an ongoing anti-corruption campaign.
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