Dushanbe: 29 July 2021 (TDI)
The Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe met with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday. The meeting took place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan where the Chinese official was for the meeting of defense ministers from member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Wei iterated that China and Russia will firmly safeguard the core interests of the two countries, uphold global equity and justice, and protect regional security and stability.
The two nations need to communicate about their stances, build consensus, intensify cooperation, and coordinate actions in dealing with changes in the situation in Afghanistan and Central Asia and in suppressing terrorism. He said China-Russia ties have remained strong amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and global geopolitical changes, and have become significant in terms of maintaining global stability. The Chinese Defense Minister also noted that the extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation showed the world the two countries’ shared determination to uphold the treaty, bolster their friendship and extend strong support to each other and urged both sides to strengthen comprehensive strategic cooperation and ensure the stable and smooth development of bilateral ties.
Shoigu said cooperation between the two nations’ militaries has continued expanding and rising to a new high, and it has produced remarkable achievements in recent years. Russia is willing to further boost military and defense technology cooperation with China. He also added that given the growing uncertainty in the regional security environment, Russia is paying a great deal of attention to the new situations in Afghanistan and Central Asia and values China’s stance regarding Afghanistan.
It will continue to work with China and other nations in the region to safeguard regional peace and stability.
