Moscow: Valery Gerasimov, Russian armed forces chief of staff, said Moscow's strong military partnership with China provides stability around the world. "The coordination of Russian and Chinese efforts on the international stage has a stabilising effect on the global situation."
He was speaking to his Chinese counterpart, Liu Zhenli during a video conference.
He added that he is "convinced today's meetings will help us continue to strengthen the strategic Russia-China defence partnership" and the joint Russian and Chinese military exercises should remain "an important axis" of this partnership.
He also invited Liu to Moscow.
China and Russia have been strategic allies for decades and their ties became stronger after Western economic sanctions hit Moscow after the invasion of Ukraine started. Beijing hasn't condemned Russia's aggression.