MOSCOW, August 4 (Itar-Tass) —— Russian Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov will meet with Chinese Chief of the General Staff, Colonel-General Chen Binde on Thursday, August 4, to discuss army reform and development experiences in the two countries.
“The leadership of the Russian Defence Ministry and the chief of the General Staff of the People’s Liberation Army of China will discuss the state of and prospects for military and military-technical cooperation between the defence ministries of the two countries, exchange views on the reorganisation of the national Armed Forces, consider a number of other issues concerning regional and international security,” the Defence Ministry said.
Chief of the Russian Army General Staff, General of the Army Nikolai Makarov will also attend the talks.
Makarov met with Chen in Beijing in late April and found it “useful to exchange experience with China on current reforms in the Armed Forces of the two countries in the light of the fact that the centre of policy is drifting to the Asia-Pacific Region and Central Asia”.
The tow generals reviewed 10-year military cooperation within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), exchanged views on further interaction and discussed events organised in the armed forces of all of the SCO member states.
Speaking of Chen’s possible visit to Russia, Makarov said back then, “We plant discuss in detail a whole range of issues related to security in this region and the world, and the development of the Armed Forces”.
Chen, in turn, expressed concern over the fact that the United States and the European Union were obstructing China’ s defence development and stressed that “Russia is providing real assistance to China in the field of military technologies”.
The upcoming talks in Moscow were preceded by Chen’s “strategic dialogue” with Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in Washington in May. They agreed to hold a joint emergency response exercise. Chen used the opportunity to voice protest against arms supplies to Taiwan.
Chen arrived in Russia on August 3. He and members of his delegation are scheduled to visit the 5th Detached Motorised Infantry Brigade in Alabino, Moscow region, familiarise themselves with the combat training and everyday life in the unit.
Chen will also meet with the Northern Fleet command in Severomorsk, visit the heavy air carrier Admiral Flota Sovetskogo Soyuza N.G. Kuznetsov, and the Project 971 nuclear submarine K-317 Panther.
While in St. Petersburg, Chen will meet with the commanders of the Western Military District and visit historical sites in the city, including the Aurora cruiser.
The Chinese delegation’s visit will finish on August 8.