Russian Defence Minister will meet his Chinese counterpart on Friday

On Friday Russian Defence Minister Sergey Ivanov will receive his Chinese counterpart Colonel General Cao Gangchuan who has arrived in Moscow to participate in the summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

The Defence Ministers will discuss current issues of bilateral cooperation, the Russian Defence Ministry has informed RIA Novosti.

67-year-old Cao Gangchuan was appointed Minister of National Defence during the recent reshuffling of the Chinese government replacing the veteran of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Chi Haotian on the post.

Apart from studies at Chinese military educational establishments Cao Gangchuan also graduated from the artillery academy in the USSR and speaks perfect Russian.

As Chief of the Army's main arms department in 1998-2002 Cao Gangchuan was in charge of purchasing arms from Russia.

According to Chinese mass media, Cao Gangchuan supports intensified modernisation of the Chinese army's equipment and arms.

According to military sources, China is Russia's main customer in terms of equipment and arms purchasing. China's share in the total volume of Russia's military export reaches as much as 40 per cent. Most deliveries fall on Su-27 and Su-30 battle planes followed by submarines, torpedo-boat destroyers and air defence systems.