Russia-China ties at unprecedented level, Belousov says

Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said Moscow's strategic partnership with Beijing has reached an "unprecedentedly high level" during a visit to China, his ministry said on Tuesday.

Belousov also said the partnership was grounded in personal contacts between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to the ministry.

In China, Belousov met Zhang Shengmin, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission, the body headed by Xi that directs China's armed forces.

Russia has sought closer ties with China since launching its assault on Ukraine in 2022. Beijing says it is neutral, has not denounced Moscow's assault and has called for peace talks.

The meeting took place before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Shenzhen on November 18-19. Putin has said he intends to attend, and US President Donald Trump has said he will try to attend. The Kremlin said in September that Putin and Trump had discussed the idea of holding a trilateral meeting with Xi at the summit.