China intends to “strengthen communication at all levels” with the Russian navy, China’s defense minister Li Shangfu said on Monday, following a meeting with Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov of the Russian navy in Beijing.
The two countries should “regularly organize joint exercises, joint cruises, and joint military skills competition,” according to Li, as well as “expand practical cooperation in professional fields.”
In March, Beijing and Moscow participated in combined naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman.
The conversation about expanding naval cooperation with Russia took place during the highest-level public meetings between military leaders from the two countries since Russia’s failed mutiny last month.
