Russia, China say they aren't in a 'military-political alliance'

Russia and China said in a joint statement on Tuesday that the close partnership between them did not constitute a "military-political alliance."

"The parties note that relations between Russia and China, while not constituting a military-political alliance similar to those set up during the Cold War, are superior to this type of interstate cooperation," the two sides said after a Moscow summit between presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping.

These relations "do not constitute a bloc, do not have a confrontational nature and are not directed against third countries", they said.