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Visit by chief of China’s General Staff proves strategic relations - Shoigu

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu met with his Chinese colleague Fang Fenghui on Monday and discussed several key issues

MOSCOW, July 1 (Itar-Tass) - Chief of General Staff of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Fang Fenghui’s visit to Russia proves strategic relationship between the two countries, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said.

At the meeting with the Chinese general on Monday, Shoigu said, “We discussed several issues in detail. We focused on the crises: of course, the situation in Syria and around the Middle East region.”

“We discussed issues related to operational readiness of the Armed Forces,” the Russian defence minister said, adding that these issues would be discussed at the meeting between Fang Fenghui and chief of Russia’s General Staff Valery Gerasimov.

“I believe that your visit to Moscow will prove that relations between our countries are of strategic nature,” the minister stressed.

Shoigu recalled that he had held talks with Chinese Defence Minister Colonel-General Chang Wanquan on June 26.

The chief of China’s General Staff said he was very pleased to meet Sergei Shoigu. In his words, Russia is the first state that he visited after he was appointed as chief of General Staff. He expressed gratitude for organizing the meeting.

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