Sputnik:
A number of countries, under the pretext of a “missile threat,” unilaterally deploy missile defense systems in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region, affecting the security of Russia and China, and in this regard Moscow and Beijing intend to pay special attention to ensuring the balance of power, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping said a joint statement.
The sides… will pay special attention to ensuring global and regional strategic balance and stability, including taking into account the fact that some states, under the pretext of the so-called ‘missile threat,’ unilaterally develop missile defense systems and deploy them in Europe and the Asia- Pacific region, thereby severely damaging the strategic security interests of regional states, including Russia and China, and negatively affecting the strategic equilibrium, global and regional safety and stability,” the statement said.
Putin is currently paying an official visit to China upon the invitation of the Chinese president. In Beijing, Putin will also meet with Premier Li Keqiang and parliamentary leader Li Zhanshu over the weekend, before heading to the eastern port city of Qingdao for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
