BEIJING, July 3 -- Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Li Shangfu met with Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy Admiral Nikolay Yevmenov in Beijing on Monday.
Gen. Li said that President Xi Jinping paid a historic state visit to Russia in March this year, and the two heads of state have drawn up blueprints for China-Russia relations and their cooperation in various fields. China is willing to work with the Russian side to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and continuously enrich the connotation of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.
Gen. Li pointed out that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries have developed steadily. It is believed that with the joint efforts of the two sides, the China-Russia mil-to-mil relations will continue to go deeper, achieve new progress, and rise to a new level.
The Chinese and Russian navies have been maintaining close exchanges and frequent interactions. It is hoped that the two sides will strengthen communication at all levels, organize joint exercises, patrols and competitions on a regular basis, expand practical cooperation in professional fields, and make positive contributions to regional and world peace and stability, Li added.
Adm. Yevmenov said that the Russian side attaches great importance to strengthening pragmatic cooperation between the Russian and Chinese militaries in various fields. It's willing to maintain close coordination with the Chinese side, resolutely implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue to expand exchanges between the two navies at all levels, jointly organize important exercises and training activities such as joint maritime exercises and joint patrols, and constantly push the relations between the two countries and two militaries to a new level.