China's new Defense Minister Dong Jun held video talks with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Wednesday, according to a statement from the country's Defense Ministry, his first public interaction since his appointment last month, UNN reports citing Reuters.
Details
The appointment of former Chinese Navy Commander-in-Chief Dong comes after his predecessor Li Shangfu disappeared from public view in August, raising questions about China's military diplomacy.
Dong told Shoigu that the Chinese and Russian militaries will "promote bilateral military relations to reach an even higher level to play an even greater role in maintaining global security and stability," according to the Chinese Defense Ministry.
Dong added that the two armies "will respond firmly to global challenges and continue to strengthen mutual strategic trust.
The role of China's defense minister is to be the public face of the People's Liberation Army in its interaction with the media and other armed forces, the publication notes.
Addendum
China and Russia's close military ties have come under scrutiny in the West, especially after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, which China refused to condemn.
Western countries, including the United States, have repeatedly warned China not to provide lethal assistance to Russia on the battlefield.
In July, the two militaries conducted joint air and sea exercises in the Sea of Japan, and South Korea had to scramble its fighter jets when Chinese and Russian warplanes entered its air defense zone last month.
The most important element of Dung's work is to interact with the US military to reduce the risk of conflict over Taiwan and the South China Sea, the newspaper points out. High-level military talks between China and the United States resumed in December after being suspended for more than a year over the Taiwan dispute.