Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu will visit Russia and Belarus this week, the Chinese Defense Ministry confirmed in an online statement on Monday.
Since China has refused to internationally condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, relations between Beijing and Moscow have remained cordial.
“At the invitation of Russian Defense Minister (Sergei) Shoigu and Belarusian Defense Minister (Viktor) Khrinin, State Councilor and Defense Minister Li Shangfu will go to Russia from August 14 to 19 to attend the 11th Moscow Conference on International Security, and visit Belarus,” said a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman.
The spokesman added that Lee’s visit to Russia will include talks with heads of defense ministries of Russia and other countries, as well as a speech at an international security forum.
An adviser to Vladimir Putin said last month that the Russian leader plans to visit China in October. Additionally, President Xi Jinping announced during his official visit to Moscow in March that the two countries’ relations were entering a new era.
China and Russia are strategic friends, often praising their “no-limits” alliance and cooperation in the economic and military fields.
Their ties deepened after Russia launched a military campaign in Ukraine in February last year, followed by Western economic sanctions.
Beijing has refrained from specifically condemning the Russian attack.
