The defense ministers of China and Russia have pledged to strengthen military cooperation.

China's Dong Jun and Andrei Belousov of Russia met in Beijing on Monday, according to announcements from the countries' defense ministries.

Belousov told Dong that their countries' military cooperation is an important element in maintaining global and regional stability. He added that friendly relations are expanding in all directions and at an unprecedented level.

Dong said China and Russia should deepen strategic cooperation. He said both sides should continuously advance the development of military relations, firmly defend the common interests, and work together to safeguard global strategic stability.

Amid tensions with the United States and Japan, Russia and China have taken a series of measures to increase their coordination, such as joint exercises in the Pacific and the Sea of Japan.