Chinese, German defense chiefs discuss military ties in Berlin

ISTANBUL

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun met with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin on Thursday to discuss bilateral relations and military cooperation, according to a statement from China’s Defense Ministry.

The ministers also exchanged views on international and regional developments, the statement said.

Both sides reached a consensus on "strengthening practical exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries," the ministry added.

Separately, German Defense Minister Pistorius and the Philippines' Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro signed a bilateral defense cooperation agreement on Wednesday, the German Defense Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

The pact aims to enhance cooperation in areas such as armaments, training, and joint activities.

According to a separate statement from the Philippines' Department of National Defense on Thursday, the agreement "expands cooperation between the two defense and military establishments in the fields of cyber security, defense armaments and logistics, and UN peacekeeping, among others."

The Chinese and Filipino defense ministers were in Berlin to attend the UN Peacekeeping Ministerial 2025.