Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) meets with visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Dec. 13, 2004.
Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan(R) gestures during a welcome ceremony with his visiting Russian counterpart in Beijing on December 13. (newsphoto)
Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan (L) holds a welcome ceremony for visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in Beijing Dec. 13. China and Russia will conduct the first-ever joint military exercise next year. (Xinhua photo)