A senior Russian defense official attended China’s first military presentation in a show of unity between the countries.

Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, today visited the southern city of Zhuhai to view Chinese and Russian aircraft and other military equipment.

They included Chinese J22 and J35A stealth fighters which China says are rivals to the latest US planes of the same class.

Mr. Shoigu, a former defense minister, appeared on a mission to reaffirm ties between the two countries, with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine widely seen as at an impasse and Moscow having turned its attention to the soldiers North Koreans to increase its numbers.

China is not known for directly providing military support to Russia, but it has sold it dual-use technologies that could enhance its ability to attack Ukrainian targets.

China is also a major customer of Russian oil and gas amid international sanctions blocking Moscow’s access to global financial markets.

Weeks before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Vladimir Putin visited Beijing and the two sides signed a lengthy cooperation agreement promising unlimited partnership.

The two countries have held several joint military exercises and aligned their foreign policies to challenge the US-led Western liberal order.