Russia and China boost military cooperation, reach critical agreements

© Xinhua

Russian and Chinese soldiers after joint drills in Chelyabinsk, Russia, Aug. 7, 2013

Ahead of a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin this week, senior Chinese and Russian military officials said on Wednesday that the two countries have reached agreements on a slew of important military cooperation projects during the 17th round of strategic consultation.

"Many cooperation projects in critical areas were agreed upon during the current round of consultation," said Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces without revealing details.

Gerasimov met Wang Guanzhong, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday.

The two sides discussed "the current international and regional security situations, regional issues as well as the relationship between the two militaries", said China's state agency .

Gerasimov said these projects could help enhance mutual trust and between the two militaries as military ties between Russia and China are a crucial part of their "strategic cooperation".

Russian and Chinese Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the APEC Leaders Summit which will be held in Beijing from Nov. 7-11. This will be the 5th Xi-Putin meeting in 2014.

The two allies also plan to hold joint celebrations next year for the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday Moscow has secured $7.7 billion in arms contracts with global clients this year, dashing reports that Western sanctions have hit Russia's arms exports.

Russia had sent over 1,000 troops, 13 battle tanks, BM-21 rocket launch systems, 8 Mi-8 AMTSh helicopter gunships, 4 Sukhoi Su-25 assault jets and two Il-76 military transport airplanes for joint drills with China and other SCO-members in August this year.

Earlier this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russian-Chinese combat comradeship had long-standing traditions. "We remember that in the Second World War years our countries were allies and fought with the aggressor together," Putin said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping also recently became the first foreign leader who visited the Russian Defense Ministry's operational control centre.