Chinese, Russian officials discuss naval cooperation

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
3 Jul 2023 14:26

China and Russia express their desire to expand naval cooperation and strengthen communication between the two countries' militaries.

A Russian rocket boat takes part in the Vostok 2022 military exercises outside the city of Vladivostok on September 5, 2022 (AFP)

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu expressed his desire to enhance naval cooperation with Russia during high-level talks held on Monday.

During the meeting in Beijing, Li Shangfu held a meeting with Nikolai Yevmenov, the head of the Russian Navy, in which they discussed the need to strengthen communication at all levels.

The Chinese Defense Ministry released a statement expressing their hopes for closer ties and increased collaboration between the two nations' navies. He proposed organizing "joint exercises, joint cruises, and joint military skills competitions" while also expanding practical "cooperation in professional fields."

The Defense Minister also emphasized that the two countries should "make positive contributions to maintaining regional and world peace and stability."

Nikolai Yevmenov echoed these sentiments, expressing the need to expand cooperation between the navies of the two countries at all levels.

These talks represent the most notable high-level communication engagement between Chinese and Russian military officials since the failed mutiny led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the PMC Wagner against Russia's top military leadership.

On June 24, PMC Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announced on his Telegram channel storming the Rostov region and taking over the military headquarters in response to what he claims was a Russian attack on his troops earlier under the orders of the Defense Ministry, while the Ministry rejected his accusations.

Prigozhin called on the group's supporters inside the Russian Federation to join his movement and rebel against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, as well as the Chief of Staff and commander of the military operations in Ukraine Army General Valery Gerasimov.

On Saturday, the Belarusian presidential office announced that Prigozhin accepted the proposal of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of Wagner fighters in Russia and take further steps to de-escalate the situation.

Later on the same day, the Kremlin confirmed that Prigozhin will move to Belarus as part of the deal brokered by Lukashenko. Furthermore, a criminal case against the Wagner chief was dropped.

Peskov also noted that Wagner fighters who did not partake in the mutiny will sign contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry, while those who did participate won't be prosecuted.