China announced on Thursday its readiness to enhance “practical cooperation” with the Russian military following President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Moscow, where he attended the World War II Victory Day parade.
In recent years, China and Russia have significantly strengthened their bilateral ties, particularly since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Xi’s visit to Moscow last week was met with criticism from Kyiv’s allies, who accuse China of providing Moscow with political and economic support amid its ongoing military campaign. Beijing, however, maintains that it remains a neutral actor and has consistently made efforts to promote peace.
Responding to a question related to Xi’s visit and the future of China-Russia military relations, the Chinese Ministry of Defence stated that the bilateral relationship continues to operate at a high level.
“The Chinese military is prepared to collaborate further with its Russian counterpart to enhance strategic trust, increase communication, and expand practical cooperation,” said Defence Ministry spokesperson Jiang Bin in a statement posted on WeChat.
He noted that these efforts aim to enrich the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and contribute to global strategic stability.
During his meeting with President Vladimir Putin, Xi emphasized that China’s relationship with Russia adds “positive energy” to a turbulent international landscape. He also reaffirmed both countries’ shared opposition to what he described as “hegemonic bullying,” a veiled reference to the United States.
President Putin described the discussions with Xi as “traditionally warm and friendly,” referring to the Chinese leader as his “dear friend.”
