Two days earlier, Koehler had met the commander of China’s navy, Admiral Hu Zhongming, according to the statement.
01:49
Chinese floating barrier blocks entrance to Philippine ships at South China Sea flashpoint
Chinese floating barrier blocks entrance to Philippine ships at South China Sea flashpoint
In meetings with Chinese PLA officials, Koehler discussed the importance of maintaining open lines of communication, operational safety and regional security concerns, it said.
The meetings took place alongside the symposium hosted by China and attended by 29 countries, notably including representatives from rivals Russia and the US, which did not have any bilateral interactions, according to public information.
The full text of the document has not been made public.
Alexander Moiseyev, commander-in-chief of the Russian Navy who led his country’s delegation to the event, also held talks with China’s navy commander Hu, Tass reported on Sunday.
The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation in sea search and rescue operations and both stressed the importance of developing cooperation between their navies “in the interests of security and stability” in the world’s oceans, Tass said citing Russia’s defence ministry.
Both nations stressed the importance of developing cooperation between the two countries’ navies “in the interests of security and stability in the world ocean”, Tass cited Russia’s defence ministry as saying.
The forum started on Sunday and took place against a backdrop of intensified clashes between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea where they have overlapping territorial disputes. Tensions are also running high in the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea.
02:16
10 killed in mid-air helicopter collision at Malaysia naval base
10 killed in mid-air helicopter collision at Malaysia naval base
The forum established a “research working group on unmanned systems” with China as the coordinating country, a statement from China’s defence ministry on Tuesday said, although it offered no further details.
During the forum on Tuesday, Hu Zhongming called for “close communication” and “strengthened coordination” between the naval forces of countries taking part, according to China’s defence ministry.
He called on the navies of all countries to “engage in dialogue rather than confrontation, to engage in exchanges rather than becoming hostile … and to add bricks rather than chaos”.
