China-Russia military cooperation serves regional stability: spokesman

BEIJING - Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Geng Yansheng on Thursday said China-Russia military cooperation "has a positive meaning" for bilateral relations and regional stability.

Geng told a press briefing that recent Joint Sea-2014 drills in the East China Sea were "successful" and armed forces of the two countries will carry out more cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin reached an important consensus during their meeting in Shanghai last week, Geng said, noting military-to-military cooperation in various fields has achieved remarkable results.

The Joint Sea-2014 drills, inspected by Xi and Putin, made breakthroughs in various aspects and enhanced the two naval forces' ability for joint action, according to Geng.

A delegation of Russian paratroopers has come to China on exchanges with Chinese counterparts, Geng said, and a Chinese delegation will participate in the Second Tank Biathlon Championships in August at Moscow's invitation.

Both armed forces will participate in "Peace Mission 2014", a multi-national, anti-terror drill under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, he added.

The pragmatic exchanges and cooperation showed China-Russia mutual trust and strategic coordination has reached a higher level and is conducive to bilateral ties and regional peace and stability, Geng said.