China's defense minister to visit Russia and Belarus this week

China's Defense Minister Li Shangfu will visit Russia and Belarus from Monday until Saturday, according to the Chinese Ministry of Defense.

Li will attend the Moscow Conference on International Security, where he will deliver a speech and meet with leaders of the defense departments of Russia and other countries, ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said Monday.

During his visit to Belarus, Li will meet with the country's leaders and heads of the Belarusian army, Wu added.

Li last visited Russia in April, when he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Despite attempting to present itself as neutral peace broker in the Ukraine conflict, China has bolstered its economic, diplomatic, and security ties with Russia during its invasion, which Beijing has never condemned.

Li, a general and veteran of China’s military modernization drive, was sanctioned by the United States in 2018 over transactions with Russia’s state-controlled arms exporter Rosoboronexport, when he lead the Chinese military’s Equipment Development Department.