Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Russia and China in defence talks


Russia's defence minister is in China for talks aimed at further developing military and technical co-operation between the two countries.

Sergei Ivanov is meeting his Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan.

Mr Ivanov was quoted by Russian news agency Interfax as saying he believed the talks would open up what he called new and promising spheres.

Since the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, China has become the main customer for Russian arms makers.

The two defence ministers are to preside over meetings of an intergovernmental commission on defence industry co-operation, according to Russian news reports.

Agencies say that the weapons trade between the two countries this year will amount to $2bn (£1.04bn).

Over the past five years Russia and China have signed $5bn (£2.6bn) worth of contracts including deals on fighter planes, diesel electric submarines, warships and anti-aircraft missile launchers, Interfax reports.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4090807.stm