According to the Russian Defence Ministry, during a video call, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe “expressed a shared interest in stepping up strategic military exercises and joint patrols by Russia and China,” according to the Russian Defence Ministry.

“For many years, China and Russia have been strategic allies,” Shoigu added. “Today, with increased geopolitical turmoil and war potential in numerous regions of the world, the evolution of human contact is extremely crucial.”