Chinese, Russian Defense Ministers vow solidarity

Dushanbe: China and Russia will firmly safeguard the core interests of the two countries, uphold global equity and justice, and protect regional security and stability, according to Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe.
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, Wei said on Wednesday in Tajikistan’s capital Dushanbe at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu.
The Chinese official was in Dushanbe for the meeting of defense ministers from member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, according to a statement from the Chinese Defense Ministry.
Wei 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.
He noted that the extension of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, jointly announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin via video link in June, demonstrated to the world the two countries’ shared determination to uphold the treaty, bolster their friendship and extend strong support to each other.
Wei urged both sides to strengthen comprehensive strategic cooperation and ensure the stable and smooth development of bilateral ties.
During their meeting, 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.
– The Daily Mail-China Daily News exchange item