BEIJING, Dec. 13
(Xinhuanet) -- The army-to-army cooperation between China and Russia is not
targeted at any third party, said Chinese Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan here
Monday. Rather, he said, it serves the interest of regional and world peace.
Saying the cooperation will help the two armies to learn from each other,
Cao said in talks with visiting Russian counterpart Sergei Ivanov that frequent
exchange of visits between Chinese and Russian military leaders is of great
significance in deepening the strategic partnership of coordination and beefing
up bilateral military ties, according to Foreign Ministry sources.
China is ready to join hands with Russia to push forward bilateral military
ties, said Cao, also vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and state
councilor.
The Russian-Chinese collaboration in military affairs is "mature and
fruitful," Ivanov said, pledging further efforts for the army-to-army ties.
As for the first-ever China-Russia joint military exercise next year, both
men agreed that it will be "an important event," the significance and impact of
which will be "far-reaching."
Prior to the talks, Ivanov also met with Chinese President Hu Jintao and
Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission Guo Boxiong. Hu is also
chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China.
Ivanov, who arrived Sunday night as Cao's guest, will leave here Tuesday
for Sanya, a seaside resort in south China's island province of
Hainan.