Putin holds meeting with Chinese defense minister

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a working meeting with visiting Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu on Sunday, Putin’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov said.

"Putin held a working meeting with China’s State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu," he said.

Putin has hailed Russian-Chinese military cooperation, noting that Russia’s and China’s defense ministries exchange useful information and hold joint drills.

The Russian head of state hailed successful and comprehensive cooperation between Moscow and Beijing in the defense sphere. "I think that it is another major area, which strengthens the trust-based, strategic character of our relations, relations between Russia and China," Putin said.

He hailed Russian-Chinese military cooperation, noting that Russia’s and China’s defense ministries exchange useful information and hold joint drills.

The Russian president recalled Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Russia in March, when cooperation between the defense ministries was among the topics.

The Chinese defense minister noted that his visit is a result of the agreements reached by the Russian president and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, during the latter’s visit to Russia in March. "This my first foreign visit after I took the office of Chinese defense minister. I chose Russia to stress the special character and strategic importance of our bilateral relations," he said, hailing the role of "personal friendship" between the two countries’ leaders.