The Russian Defense Minister visited China again and praised the Russia-China strategic partnership of coordination for reaching an "unprecedented high level."

According to statements from the Ministry of National Defense of China and Russia on the 3rd, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, who is currently visiting China, said that the strategic partnership between Moscow and Beijing has reached an "unprecedented high level."

The statement pointed out that when Belousov met with Zhang Shengmin, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on the 3rd, he said that in accordance with the strategic guidance of Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, "the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between Russia and China in the new era has developed in depth and reached an unprecedented high level, which is crucial to the peace, stability, prosperity and development of both countries (Russia and China) and the world."

Belousov also said that at a time when the international security situation, especially the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, is complex and volatile, Russia appreciates and supports China's active role in major international and regional affairs and is willing to continue to work closely with China and strengthen strategic consultations. Belousov also congratulated Zhang Shengmin for being promoted to "Member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee" at the Fifth Plenary Session of the CPC Central Committee at the end of last month.

Zhang Shengmin said that the military-to-military relations between China and Russia have improved in recent years, with fruitful results in high-level exchanges and joint exercises and training... "We are willing to work with Russia to thoroughly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue to strengthen strategic communication, enhance mutual trust in the military field, improve cooperation mechanisms, and explore and create more new highlights of cooperation with the characteristics of the times."

Apart from Xi Jinping, Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Shengmin is the only member of the Central Military Commission who has not been "purged" among the seven-member list of the Central Military Commission for the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2022, and is currently the only member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee with a military background.

Russia has been seeking to establish closer ties with China since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022; Beijing insists on remaining neutral in the Russia-Ukraine war and calls for peace talks between the two sides to resolve the dispute, but has never spoken out to condemn Russia's attack.

It is not clear whether the meeting between high-level military officials from China and Russia is related to the meeting between the three giants of Russia, China and the United States that may take place later this month. The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit will be held in Shenzhen, China, from the 18th to the 19th of this month, and both Putin and US President Trump are expected to attend. The Kremlin revealed in September that the "Double Prime Minister" had discussed the possibility of holding a meeting between the heads of state of Russia, China and the United States with Xi Jinping during the APEC summit.