MOSCOW — China’s protection minister on Monday toured the highest Russian army academy on a go to to the Russian capital that underscored the more and more shut ties between Moscow and Beijing amid the combating in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin hosted Gen. Li Shangfu within the Kremlin on Sunday, noting that his journey follows a “very productive” three-day state go to to Moscow by Chinese chief Xi Jinping final month.

Putin emphasised that protection cooperation, together with joint army drills, has helped “strengthen the trust-based strategic relationship” between the 2 international locations.

Li advised Putin that “relations between our armed forces are growing stronger with every passing day,” including that “your personal friendship with the president of China plays a major role in this process, and everyone in China knows this.”

On Monday, Li visited the army academy of the Russian General Staff, the elite establishment for coaching senior army officers.

The Russian Defense Ministry famous in a press release issued after his go to that the academy would welcome greater than 20 senior army officers from China for a coaching course within the fall.

PHOTOS: Chinese minister's tour underscores nearer ties with Russia

Li’s journey to Moscow displays China’s strengthening engagement with Russia, with which it has intently aligned its international coverage in an try and reshape the world order to decrease the affect of the United States and its Western allies.

China has refused to criticize Russia’s actions in Ukraine and blamed the U.S. and NATO for frightening Moscow. Xi’s three-day go to to Russia final month gave a robust political increase to Putin, sending a robust message to Western leaders that their efforts to isolate Moscow have fallen brief.

After the talks, Putin and Xi issued joint declarations pledging to additional bolster their “strategic cooperation,” develop cooperation in vitality, high-tech industries and different spheres and increase the usage of their currencies in mutual commerce to scale back dependence on the West.

After greater than a yr of combating in Ukraine and bruising Western sanctions, Russia’s dependence on China has elevated considerably. Facing Western restrictions on its oil, gasoline and different exports, Russia has shifted its vitality flows to China and sharply expanded different exports, leading to a 30% hike in bilateral commerce.

Last month, Putin and Xi additionally vowed to additional develop army cooperation between Moscow and Beijing and conduct extra joint sea and air patrols. However, there was no point out of any potential Chinese weapons provides to Russia that the U.S. and different Western allies feared.

On Friday, the Chinese international minister emphasised that Beijing wouldn’t promote weapons to both facet within the battle in Ukraine.

Copyright © 2023 The Washington Times, LLC.

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com