Chinese military ready to boost cooperation with Russia
Beijing, Mar 30 (EFE).- China is willing to boost military cooperation and communication with Russia, a Chinese army spokesman said on Thursday.
Tan Kefei told a press conference that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) was ready to “regularly organize joint sea and air patrols” and to “strengthen exchanges and cooperation” with Russian forces.
Tan lauded the friendship between China and Russia and added that the bilateral ties did “not seek confrontation” and were not “directed at third parties.”
The comments came after Russia and China recently cemented ties under the “strategic leadership” of Chinese president Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation “has developed to a high level” and the practical cooperation between the two armies “has given new steps forward,” the spokesperson added.
Both military forces will “jointly protect international justice and equity” and “contribute to the maintenance of international and regional security and stability,” Tan said.
Xi held talks with Putin in Moscow this month shortly after China released a proposal for peace in Ukraine.
China has maintained an ambiguous stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, refraining from calling it a war as well as condemning international sanctions on Moscow.
Beijing hailed Xi’s trip as a meeting between two “friendly neighbors” that would continue to work towards multilateralism and greater democracy to “help make global governance more just and equitable.”
In its proposed peace plan Beijing outlined 12 points in which it called for talks and abandoning the “cold war mentality.”
Western allies have reacted with skepticism to Beijing’s proposals amid China’s refusal to condemn the ongoing war and its continued efforts to deepen ties with Moscow. EFE
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