Defense minister's trip to Russia marks first overseas destination

The visit to Russia by China's defense minister will demonstrate the high-level development of bilateral relations and send a signal of upholding global peace and stability, experts said on Friday.

State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu will pay an official visit to Russia from Sunday to Wednesday at the invitation of his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu, said Senior Colonel Tan Kefei, a Defense Ministry spokesman, on Friday afternoon.

The visit will be the first overseas trip by Li after he became minister of national defense at the annual session of the National People's Congress in March.

Li will hold talks with Russian military officials and visit Russian military academies during the visit, said the spokesman, adding that under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, relations between the Chinese and Russian militaries have been continually developing at a high level in recent years.

"New progress has been made in strategic communication, joint exercises and training as well as practical cooperation, repeatedly enriching the strategic connotation of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era," he said.

Yu Sui, professor at the China Center for Contemporary World Studies, said it's reasonable and understandable that the new defense minister chose Russia as his first overseas visit since taking office, as bilateral ties have been witnessing such high-level development.

"China's comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination with Russia has reached quite a high level, as President Xi Jinping also chose Russia as his first overseas trip after being elected Chinese president in March," he said. "Thus, it's a normal arrangement for General Li to visit Russia at this time."

Maintaining a sound momentum of bilateral cooperation, both the Chinese and Russian militaries are prioritizing the implementation of the consensus reached by President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin during their recent meetings.

According to the joint statement signed by the two presidents in Moscow last month, the two nations will regularly organize joint maritime and air patrols, exercises and training, strengthen exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries, including those under existing bilateral mechanisms, and further deepen military mutual trust.

Yu said there will be more detailed arrangements to be discussed during the upcoming visit, as the two presidents have outlined their bilateral cooperation, stressing that Sino-Russian defense cooperation will only be carried out under the premise of safeguarding their respective security interests, maintaining world peace and stability and promoting development. And their cooperation is based on non-alliances, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party.

This will benefit world peace and stability, as the United States and some other Western countries are stirring up more trouble in the Asia-Pacific and other regions, he added.