China and Russia Strengthen Ties in Military Meeting with Putin.

Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu hailed the "very strong" and "stable" ties between China and Russia during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin. Putin welcomed military cooperation between the two countries, saying it strengthens the "exclusively trusting, strategic nature" of their relationship. Li's visit to Russia comes weeks after an official visit by China's leader Xi Jinping, during which the two countries discussed Beijing's proposals to end the Ukraine conflict.