Putin calls for closer Russia-China co-operation on military satellites and prospective weapons

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks to Gen Zhang Youxia, vice chairman of China’s Central Military Commission (Sputnik/Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has told a senior Chinese military official that Moscow and Beijing should expand their co-operation on military satellites and other prospective defence technologies – a statement that signals increasingly close defence links between the allies.

Mr Putin spoke in televised remarks at the start of his meeting with Gen Zhang Youxia, who is China’s second-ranking military official and vice chairman of the Central Military Commission.