Russia and China “shake hands” to deepen defense cooperation and hold joint high schools

To deepen their cooperation in matters of security with the weight being given to the implementation of common military high schools they agreed Russia and the China as announced on Monday (19/9) by the Moscow Security Council.

“The two sides agreed to further military cooperation with an emphasis on joint exercises and patrols, as well as strengthening contacts between the general staffs“, emphasized the Security Council as reported by the Athens News Agency.

The announcement was issued while Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev is visiting China for security consultations and meetings with officials.

One of the president’s closest allies Vladimir Putin sought today to deepen strategic cooperation with China, expanding defense cooperation and strengthening coordination between Moscow and Beijing on serious geopolitical issues.

After invasion of UkrainePutin has turned more to China as the war and severe Western sanctions have torpedoed Russia’s relationship with the US and its allies in Europe.

Before the invasion, Putin and Xi said they had a “boundless” cooperation, although in a meeting last week in Uzbekistan, Putin said he understood the fact that the Chinese president had concerns and questions about the conflict.

Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, a close ally of Putin, met China’s top diplomat Yang Yeji in Nanping to discuss the implementation of the agreements reached by Putin and Xi during their meeting.

“The development of strategic cooperation with China is an absolute priority of Russian foreign policy,” the Security Council said in a statement.

Patrushev and Yang also discussed the Korean Peninsula, Taiwan and Ukraine.

Patrushev, a former Soviet agent who has known Putin since the 1970s, is a staunch ally of Putin and is seen as one of the few people who can influence the Russian president.