BEIJING, November 3. /TASS/. The People's Liberation Army of China aims to strengthen strategic cooperation with Russia and uphold the sovereignty of both nations, Zhang Shengmin, vice-chairman of China’s Central Military Commission, has said.

"Together with Russia, we are prepared to thoroughly implement the important agreements reached by the heads of our two states, continuously strengthen strategic coordination, deepen mutual trust in the military sphere, improve cooperation mechanisms, identify new forms of interaction that reflect the spirit of the times, more effectively safeguard the sovereignty, security, and development interests of our countries, and resolutely uphold global and regional peace and stability," said Zhang according to the Chinese Defense Ministry’s WeChat social media page following his meeting with Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov in Beijing.

Zhang noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of a strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, as well as the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation between China and Russia. He pointed out that, under the strategic guidance of China’s President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, China-Russia relations have entered a "new phase characterized by more vigorous and accelerated development, playing a constructive role in maintaining global strategic stability and improving global governance."

Zhang highlighted that, in recent years, cooperation between the armed forces of China and Russia has developed with the same high level of momentum as the ties between the two states, yielding fruitful results. In particular, he pointed to the successful strengthening of high-level contacts and the productive outcomes achieved through joint military exercises.