China and Russia agreed on Tuesday to further boost cooperation
in the defense field.
Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan said in a meeting with his
Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov that promotion of mutual trust
and cooperation in the defense field meets the fundamental
interests of the two peoples, and benefits peace and stability of
the region and the world at large.
Cao, also vice chairman of the Central Military Commission and
state councilor, told Ivanov that China and Russia share same or
similar views on many important international and regional issues.
The two countries have scored marked progress in the fields of
trade, science and technology and culture.
"There exist no obstacle for the two countries to boost the
Sino-Russian strategic partnership of cooperation," he said.
In regard to bilateral cooperation in defense field, Cao said
the two armed forces have carried out pragmatic cooperation in
recent years through strategic consultation, personnel training and
exchanges between academies. The defense cooperation is quite
satisfactory, he noted.
Ivanov, who is in Beijing to attend a defense ministers' meeting
of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Wednesday, acknowledged
during the meeting with Cao that the Russia-China strategic
partnership of cooperation proceeded smoothly. The two countries
share the same stance on major issues such as maintaining national
sovereignty, defending territorial integrity and fighting against
the "three forces" of separatism, terrorism and extremism, he
said.
Russia values its cooperation and exchanges with China in
various fields, Ivanov said, adding that such cooperation has
resulted in remarkable progress.
Referring to the joint military exercise held by Chinese and
Russian troops on August 18-25, 2005, Ivanov said it not only
symbolizes the further development of bilateral strategic
partnership of cooperation, but also helps increase exchanges
between the two armed forces in defense field.
Russia is ready to work with China to lift the defense
cooperation between the two sides to a higher level, he noted.
(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2006)
