Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council Sergei Shoigu Photo: VCG

Secretary of the Russian Federation Security Council Sergei Shoigu will attend the 19th round of the annual China-Russia strategic security consultation and the ninth meeting of the China-Russia law-enforcement and security cooperation mechanism in China from November 11 to 15, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian announced on Monday.

Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi and Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission Chen Wenqing will hold talks with Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu respectively, Lin said.

China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era and maintain close communication on issues of mutual interest that have strategic and overarching significance. On November 12, Wang Yi will hold the annual strategic security consultation with Shoigu. The aim is to follow through on the important consensus reached by the two heads of state at their meeting this year, have in-depth communication and coordinate positions on bilateral relations and major issues concerning strategic security and interests of the two countries, and enhance mutual trust, Lin said during a routine press conference on Monday.

According to TASS, citing the Russian Security Council's press service, Wang and Shoigu will discuss "current problems of international and regional security, as well as a wide range of issues of bilateral cooperation."

In addition, topics to be discussed between Chen and Shoigu will include "issues of combating extremism, terrorism, and transnational crime," read the TASS report.

"The strategic security consultation between China and Russia covers a wide range of areas," Wang Xiaoquan, an expert with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. He noted that during this round of consultation, China and Russia may discuss the US' potential new security policies and their impact on the world, as well as the Russia-Ukraine conflict. In addition, topics related to the Middle East, NATO, the Taiwan Straits, and nuclear deterrence may also be included in the agenda. Non-traditional security areas, such as cybersecurity, climate security, and transportation line security, could also be topics of interest for both sides, Wang Xiaoquan said.

Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Monday that as comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world powers, should enhance their collaboration to uphold world peace, stability, and security, as well as work together to shape a future international order, so as to foster a broad consensus that benefits the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

According to TASS, Shoigu will also visit Airshow China 2024 in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong Province, where Russia's fifth-generation Su-57 fighter jet will be exhibited for the first time. 

Wang Xiaoquan noted that Shoigu's visit to the airshow allows him to directly experience China's advanced weaponry, which is significant for further strengthening cooperation between China and Russia. "This also sends a signal to the outside world that regardless of how the international situation changes, China and Russia will maintain a high level of strategic mutual trust," Wang Xiaoquan said.

In September, Wang Yi met with Shoigu in St. Petersburg, during which the Chinese Foreign Minister noted that China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with Russia and continuously enrich the strategic connotations of bilateral ties.