China calls for closer defense ties with Russia in ministers’ talks

China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun told his Russian counterpart on Tuesday that Beijing was willing to enhance strategic coordination with Moscow and jointly improve their capacity to respond to risks and challenges, state media reported.

“China is willing to work with Russia to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen strategic coordination, enrich the substance of cooperation, and improve exchange mechanisms,” Dong said in a video call with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua.