Moscow not for axis with India, China

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, NOV. 29. Russia has no plans to set up a military bloc with India and China. Moscow is not mooting any military alliances directed against third countries, the Russian Defence Minister, Marshal Igor Sergeyev, who is on a visit to Japan, was quoted as saying.

``Our interaction with China and India does not amount to an attempt to form a new regional bloc. It is aimed at implementing the concept of a fair multi-polar world,'' the Interfax news agency quoted the Minister as telling reporters in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Marshal Sergeyev said Russia would cut its armed forces in Siberia and the Far East by more than 20 per cent over the next five years. We are reducing forces in the North-West and the East because the situation there is calm and stable, but we are reinforcing our troops in the South, where the situation is fraught with dangers, he said.

Marshal Sergeyev called for expanding defence cooperation between Russia and Japan. ``We are willing to consider any Japanese requests for supplies of Russian weapons and military equipment, including air-defence systems''.

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Section  : International
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