Chang Wanquan, member of the Central Military Commission of the PRC and director of the General Armaments Department of the PLA, met in Moscow with Vladimir Popovkin, deputy minister of defense and chief of armament of Russia, on May 21, 2009.

　　The two sides shared a unanimous view that the friendly contact between China and Russia has a long history. Thanks to the common concern and cordial care of the leaders of the two countries, the bilateral strategic and cooperative partnership has maintained a sound momentum of development, as evidenced by frequent mutual visits between high-levels of China and Russia, smooth progress of military exchanges and fruitful armament technology cooperation.

　　The two sides expressed that the development of China-Russia military ties was not only in conformity with the fundamental interests of the two countries, but also conducive to maintaining the peace and stability in the region and the world.

　　Both sides should further strengthen the pragmatic exchanges and cooperation between armament departments of the two militaries on the basis of the existing friendly cooperative ties, so as to make persistent efforts for deepening and expanding the ties between the two countries and the two militaries.

　　Chang Wanquan also thanked the Russian side for its timely material assistance to China's quake-stricken areas after the great Wenchuan earthquake in 2008.

　　Members of the delegation including Zhang Zhannan, deputy commander of the PLA Navy, Jing Wenchun, deputy commander of the PLA Air Force, Wang Jiurong, deputy commander of the Second Artillery Force, and Yu Jianguo, director of the International Cooperation Department under the PLA General Armaments Department were present at the meeting.

　　Chang Wanquan and his party arrived in Russia on May 21 to kick off a 4-day-long goodwill visit there at the invitation of the Russian Defense Ministry.

　　(May 22, PLA Daily)                                                  Editor: Dong Zhaohui