The chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army, Gen. Fang Fengshui, made his first official visit to Moscow.

He met with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia. The talks focused on military cooperation and the protection of Syria.

Two joint exercises have been scheduled: Maritime Cooperation 2013(from July 5 to 12 in the Gulf of Peter the Great, Sea of ​​Japan) and Peace Mission 2013 (July 28 to August 15 on the polygon Tchebarkoul in the Urals).

No statement was made with regard to Syria.