World | Russia Now Russian, Chinese Militaries Get Cozier In visit to Beijing, Putin announces future exercises By Matt Cantor 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. Read These Next NFL fans see same costly gaffe two weeks in a row. Noem, Pritzker clash after agents shoot woman in Chicago. The Supreme Court delivered bad news to Ghislaine Maxwell. 'Subway surfing' in NYC claims 2 more young victims. Report an error