TMCnet News

China, Russia launch military hotline
[December 31, 2008]

China, Russia launch military hotline


Beijing, Dec 30, 2008 (Asia Pulse Data Source via COMTEX) --
China and Russia have installed and commissioned a new military hotline between the two countries, reported China's state run news agency.

Chen Bingde, China?s Chief of General Staff of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China and his Russian counterpart Nikolay Makarov held their first-ever conversation via direct phone link on December 29, according to Xinhua news agency.



Both military leaders hailed the successful launch of the direct hotline.
The Chinese officer said the launch of the direct phone link between the two countries' chiefs of general staff is another important measure for deepening pragmatic cooperation between Chinese and Russian militaries and another showcase of the two countries' mutual political trust and strategic cooperation.

The direct phone link will help the two sides maintain timely communication on significant issues such as the exchange and cooperation between the armies and exchange views and collaborate stances in time on international and regional affairs, so as to promote the exchange and cooperation between the two militaries, he added.


For his part, Russian Chief of General Staff Makarov said the launch of the direct phone link once more displayed the high-level of the China-Russia strategic partnership and the two countries' military ties.

He expressed his willingness to work with China to keep frequent exchanges on the two armies' cooperation and other important issues in order to push forward their military ties.

During their meeting, the two leaders also exchanged views on international and regional situation, bilateral relations, and other issues of common concern.-

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]