China pledged on Wednesday to maintain its principles and guidelines in developing relations with Russia after China's leadership transition and Russia's military reshuffle.

"China has always attached great importance to Sino-Russian relations. Regardless of how the international and domestic situation changes, we will not change our principles and guidelines in developing a relationship with Russia," President Hu Jintao told newly appointed Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Beijing.

China is ready to join hands with Russia in future cooperation, maintaining the continuity of the bilateral military relationship, and promoting the partnership to higher levels, said Hu, adding that the recent 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has brought "new opportunities" for the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Shoigu's two-day visit to China is his first trip abroad as defense minister. The former governor of Moscow Region became defense chief on Nov 6 after Russian President Vladimir Putin fired Anatoly Serdyukov over a fraud investigation on the same day and broadened the military reshuffle last week.

Analysts said the personnel changes will not alter the direction of Sino-Russian ties because Shoigu, a veteran Russian official, is positive toward China and there are huge benefits shared by the two countries.

Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie said on Wednesday that the cooperation between the two militaries is "the most important development direction of Chinese military diplomacy".

China will continue to firmly back Russia to take a development path suited to its history, tradition and national conditions, to safeguard its core interests and to support its development, Qian Lihua, director of the foreign affairs office at the Ministry of National Defense, told reporters.

Russia highly values military cooperation with China and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the country, said Shoigu.

The close partnership has brought genuine interests to both countries and contributed to global peace and stability, Shoigu added.

As China's economy and influence have continued to grow, the country has become increasingly attractive to Moscow as a regional partner, Russian International News Agency said on Wednesday.

Feng Yujun, an expert on Russian studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the cooperation between the two neighboring countries could contribute to regional stability and help smooth the transformation of the global structure.

China can also benefit from the military technologies of Russia, the world's second-largest arms exporter, Feng said.

Shoigu affirmed to Beijing the importance of cooperation in military technology for the provision of regional stability, according to the Moscow-based Interfax news agency.

"The closer cooperation between our countries is, including military-technical cooperation, the more peaceful our region will be," Interfax quoted Shoigu as saying.

The two militaries have launched several counter-terrorism exercises under the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and three bilateral joint drills.

Mentioning the possibility of joint drills next year, Qian said "China believes our cooperation will be further strengthened in more diversified forms".

Contact the writers at zhaoshengnan@chinadaily.com.cn and chengguangjin@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 11/22/2012 page11)