Belousov in Beijing: Russia-China partnership at an “unprecedentedly high level”, ahead of the APEC summit in Shenzhen

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said in Beijing that the strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing has reached an “unprecedentedly high level”. Belousov is in China and on Tuesday, November 3, met Zhang Shengmin, vice chairman of the Central Military Commission, the body under Xi Jinping that directs China’s armed forces.

The statement is contained in an announcement by the Russian Defence Ministry. Belousov added that the relationship “is founded on the personal contacts” of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. He assessed that the international security situation, particularly in Asia-Pacific, is complicated and fluid, and that Russia values and supports China’s active role in major international and regional issues.

What Zhang said about military cooperation

On the Chinese side, the Ministry of National Defence said Zhang described relations as “a new stage of greater achievements and faster development”, with a “constructive role” for international strategic stability. Military ties have advanced in recent years alongside the broader bilateral relationship, he said, with significant progress in high-level contacts, joint exercises and training. Beijing, Zhang said, is ready to strengthen strategic communication and mutual trust with Moscow in the military field, improve cooperation mechanisms and explore new areas.

Belousov said Russia is ready to continue close coordination and strategic consultations with China so that the two countries steadfastly support each other and widen practical cooperation, including in military training and scientific and technological innovation. The visit comes in the year that marks 30 years since China and Russia established their strategic coordination partnership.

Zhang’s first publicly known meeting with a foreign minister since his promotion

Tuesday’s meeting was Zhang’s first publicly known contact with a foreign minister since his promotion to the Communist Party’s Politburo last week. Together with Xi he is one of only two active members of the top military leadership, since five of the seven members appointed in 2022 have been removed in the anti-corruption campaign. In September Zhang met the defence ministers of Vietnam and Indonesia on the sidelines of a regional defence forum in Beijing.

Russia has sought closer ties with China since the invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. Beijing has never condemned it, insists it is neutral and calls for peace talks. The two countries’ forces have held regular joint exercises in recent years, something Western and some other governments view with suspicion. The visit precedes the APEC summit in Shenzhen on November 18 and 19, where Putin has said he intends to be present and Donald Trump has said he will try to go. The Kremlin said in September that Putin and Trump discussed the idea of a trilateral meeting with Xi at the summit.