New Chinese Defense Minister wants to “elevate relations” between the Russian and Chinese armies

The Russian Minister of Defense, Sergei Shoigu, spoke this Thursday, February 1, by videoconference with the new Chinese Minister of Defense, Dong Jun, who proposed strengthening relations between the two armies.

During Sino-Russian maneuvers in Ningxia (illustrative image). © Savitskiy Vadim/Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP

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With our correspondent in Beijing,

Stéphane Lagarde

Despite American and European pressure, Beijing will not refuse to support Moscow on the Ukrainian question, declared Dong Jun in the Russian translation of this interview, certainly by videoconference, but which constitutes the first international commitment for the new Chinese Minister of Defense , since taking office a month ago and the dismissal of his predecessor without official explanations.

To reassure

Words which aim first of all to reassure the Russian side requesting “

 closer and more fruitful cooperation

 ” with the Chinese partner. China and Russia are celebrating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries this year. Relations which have moved to the stage of “

 limitless partnership

 ” around a “

 rock-solid

 ” friendship, in a context of growing tensions with the West.

" 

Higher level

 "

The joint statement from the defense ministries goes so far as to mention the “ 

best relationship in history

 ” under the leadership of Presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin. Military cooperation, joint maneuvers, relations between the two armies will this year be “ 

raised to a higher level

 ”, continued Dong Jun, while recalling that this “

 comprehensive military cooperation

 ” did not target any third country and did not form a “ 

bloc” .

military

 ".

DecryptionChina/Russia: an alliance strengthened by the war in Ukraine?

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