Russian President Vladimir Putin has held talks with China's top uniformed officer. Putin stressed his country's stance to strengthen military cooperation with China to counter the United States, which he accused of fueling tension in the Asia-Pacific region.

Putin made the remark at his residence outside Moscow during his talks with the Central Military Commission's vice chair, General Zhang Youxia. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu also took part in the meeting held on Wednesday.

Putin said Russia and China's cooperation in the military and military-technical sphere are becoming "a matter of no small importance." He added their work in the high-tech sphere "comes first" in the military-technical cooperation.

He said the United States is increasingly dragging all the alliance countries into creating a "tense situation" in the Asia-Pacific region and trying to establish new military-political alliances there.

He added Russia and its friends are watching what is happening and, together with China, are reacting calmly in a balanced manner.

Putin expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with China to counter the US and other nations.

In reply, Zhang said Russia, under Putin's leadership, stubbornly stands in the face of Western sanctions, "which shows that no difficulty bends you and Russia." He said for this the Chinese side expresses respect to Putin.

The talks follow Shoigu's meeting with Zhang in Beijing on October 30.