The Type 055 large destroyer Nanchang attached to the navy of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Northern Theater Command is seen during deployment as part of the Russian Vostok 2022 strategic military drills lasting through September 7, 2022. The Russian Defense Ministry published footage of the meeting of the two countries' warships in the Sea of Japan on September 2, 2022. Photo: VCG

Chinese State Councilor and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu is scheduled to visit Russia, attend an international security conference in Moscow and visit Belarus this week, a move experts said on Monday will contribute to peace and stability, help resolve contradictions in the Ukraine crisis and boost China's military cooperation with the two countries.

At the invitation of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin, Li will visit Russia, attend the 11th Moscow Conference on International Security in 2023 and visit Belarus from Monday to Saturday, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, a spokesperson at China's Ministry of National Defense, said in a press release on Monday.

During his visit in Russia, Li will deliver a speech at the Moscow Conference on International Security and meet with Russian and other countries' defense leaders and in Belarus, Li will meet and hold talks with leaders of the Belarusian government and its military and visit Belarusian military units, Wu said.

The security conference is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, at which heads and representatives of defense agencies, international organizations, and the expert and political science communities will have the opportunity to exchange views on strengthening constructive cooperation in the new realities, said Shoigu in a statement published on the website of the Russian Defense Ministry.

China, Russia and Belarus are expected to deepen military cooperation in a move that is conducive to safeguarding regional peace and stability in Europe and Asia-Pacific, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Monday.

The three countries have similar views in many key global affairs, including opposing the US-led Western hegemony and advocating a multipolar world and multilateralism, Song said.

China can also promote peace talks for the Ukraine crisis with Russia and Belarus, Song said.

Western media has been hyping China-Russia military cooperation as a "threat," with the latest event being China and Russia's third joint naval patrol that allegedly reached international waters near Alaska in late July and early August.

Experts commented that the joint patrol marks a positive force that helps safeguard regional stability and security of strategic routes in the Asia-Pacific region at the time when the US is enhancing combat readiness and rallying allies and partners in the region to change defense policies and expand militaries, which have escalated regional tensions.

China, Russia and Belarus can deepen military cooperation in terms of joint military exercises, anti-terrorism and defense technologies, Song said.