China and Russia will jointly hold a first-ever military exercise later this year, visiting Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said Monday.

Ivanov made the announcement at a news conference after meeting with his Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan.

Officials did not disclose the exact time and place of the manoeuvres.

Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan and Ivanov agreed in their talks that the joint military exercise will be an important event, and its significance and impact will be far-reaching in the relations between the two nations and the two armies.

The bilateral ties between China and Russia have entered a new phase in their relations, with the two sides establishing a strategic co-operative partnership, said President Hu Jintao, also chairman of the Central Military Commission, when meeting with Ivanov.

It accords with the fundamental interest of the peoples of all the countries in this region to strengthen Sino-Russian military co-operation and bilateral co-operation within the framework of the Shanghai Co-operation Organization to fight against terrorism that threatens the safety of the two nations and of the region, Hu said.

The signing of Russia-China friendly neighbouring co-operation agreement and the demarcation of the borders have deepened the bilateral strategic co-operative partnership, said Ivanov.

The military relationship is an important component of bilateral ties, Ivanov said. Russia will work together with China to push forward the relationship to maintain stability and peace in the region and the whole world.

During follow-on talks between Vice-Chairman of the Central Military Commission and Defence Minister Cao Gangchuan and Ivanov, Cao said the frequent visits by the military leaders of the two nations will enhance relations, especially bear significance on the co-operation between their armies.

Cao and Ivanov agreed that a joint military exercise planned next year will be an important event, and its significance and impact will be far-reaching in the relations between nations and their military forces.

Guo Boxiong, another vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, also met with Ivanov.

Speaking on the Taiwan question, Guo said Taiwan straits situation is very complicated and the separatism activities of the Taiwan independence forces are the largest threat to the peace and stability.

He stressed that the Chinese People's Liberation Army will never sit idle regarding Taiwan separating from China.

Ivanov said Russia will adamantly stick to its one-China policy and will never change its position.

Ivanov, who arrived on Sunday night for a four-day visit to China as guest of Cao, is also expected to visit Sanya, a seaside resort on the southern tip of Hainan Province in South China.

i already made refrence to this on one of my russian-chinese allaince threads, not that i care. I think that they are going to develop an alliance as putin takes the country back to communism or at least socialis, nice find though.

Originally posted by bushfriend
i already made refrence to this on one of my russian-chinese allaince threads, not that i care. I think that they are going to develop an alliance as putin takes the country back to communism or at least socialis, nice find though.

Putin isn't taking the government back to communism, though what he seems to be doing is sort of an authoritarian democracy, a democratic state that the executive branch has a large amount of power. What he seems to be doing is consolidating Moscow's powerbase but I wouldn't go so far to say that he's bringing back communism. Russia's latest presedential elections were considered more legitimate than the US 2000 election I believe.

thanks,
drfunk