Russian President Vladimir Putin says there is no need for a Russia-China military alliance now, but notes it could be forged in the future.
Key points:
Russia has shared sensitive military technologies with China
Mr Putin said he personally intervened to send Alexei Navalny to Germany
Mr Navalny, a Kremlin critic, fell ill on a flight in Siberia
Mr Putin, speaking at the annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club via video conference on Thursday, signalled deepening ties between Moscow and Beijing amid growing tensions in their relations with the United States.
When asked during the conference if a military union between Moscow and Beijing was possible, Mr Putin replied that "we don't need it, but, theoretically, it's quite possible to imagine it".
Russia and China have hailed their "strategic partnership", but so far rejected any talk about the possibility of a military alliance.
Mr Putin pointed to the war games that the armed forces of China and Russia held as a signal of the countries' burgeoning military cooperation.
Russia and China have hailed their "strategic partnership".(AP: Dmitri Lovetsky, Pool)
Mr Putin also noted Russia had shared sensitive military technologies that helped significantly boost China's military potential, but didn't mention any specifics, saying the information was sensitive.
