World / Russia Now Russian, Chinese Militaries Get Cozier In visit to Beijing, Putin announces future exercises By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff Posted Jun 6, 2012 8:13 AM CDT Copied Russia's President Vladimir Putin, left, attends a bilateral meeting with China's Vice President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Bejing today. (AP Photo/Ed Jones, Pool) Just days after the US announced plans for a boosted Asia-Pacific fleet, Vladimir Putin says his country will beef up its military relationship with China. Putin pointed to six days of drills near China's east coast in April: "They were the first of such exercises," the Russian president said today during a visit to Beijing, according to Reuters. "We have agreed with Chairman Hu that we will continue such cooperation." The AP notes that while China has long been a leading buyer of Russian fighters and subs, the post-Cold War relationship hasn't been free of mistrust. But ties has warmed steadily since Putin has been at Russia's helm. (More Russia stories.) Report an error