China admires Russia’s resilience, top PLA general tells Vladimir Putin
- General Zhang Youxia became the most senior PLA figure to visit since Russia was sanctioned over its invasion of Ukraine
- Putin said friendly relations between the two countries are ‘conducive to peace and stability’ but emphasised they are not building a formal military alliance
“Under your leadership, the Russian Federation is responding robustly to various risks and challenges in the face of international turbulence,” Zhang said in footage aired on Russian state television.
“It has been proven by fact that you and Russia won’t be bent by any difficulties. We Chinese express our admiration for this.”
Putin told Zhang, the No 2 in China’s defence policymaking, that the two countries should expand cooperation especially in hi-tech areas such as “space, including high-orbit assets, and new prospective types of weapons that will ensure strategic security of both Russia and the People’s Republic of China”.
Although Putin stressed the importance of enhancing military ties, he said the two countries are not building a “military alliance”, a statement from the Chinese defence ministry said.
