China’s defence minister, Dong Jun, told his Russian counterpart in a Jan. 27 video call that Beijing wants to deepen strategic coordination with Moscow and jointly boost capacity to respond to risks and challenges. Dong urged implementation of the leaders’ consensus and called for stronger cooperation and improved military exchange mechanisms. The conversation, reported by Xinhua and filed by Reuters, highlights ongoing Sino-Russian defence alignment amid broader geopolitical tensions.
China Pushes for Deeper Defence Ties With Russia in Ministers' Video Call
China’s Minister of National Defence Dong Jun attends the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-China Defence Ministers’ Luncheon as part of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, October 31, 2025. REUTERS/Hasnoor Hussain/Pool
BEIJING, Jan 27 (Reuters) — China’s Defence Minister Dong Jun told his Russian counterpart on Tuesday that Beijing is prepared to deepen strategic coordination with Moscow and jointly strengthen their ability to respond to risks and challenges, state media reported.
In a video call with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Dong said both sides should "earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen strategic coordination, enrich the substance of cooperation, and improve exchange mechanisms," according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua.
“China is willing to work with Russia to earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state,” Dong said during the call.
The remarks underscore continued military alignment between Beijing and Moscow amid wider geopolitical tensions. The two ministers discussed practical steps to expand defence cooperation, enhance military-to-military exchanges, and improve mechanisms for consultations and coordination on shared security risks.
(Reporting by Ethan Wang and Ryan Woo; Editing by Andrew Heavens)
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