Li's visit to Russia set to expand cooperation

Premier Li Keqiang's trip to Russia next week is expected to further expand pragmatic bilateral cooperation and voice the two countries' common stance and wisdom on global governance and building an open world economy, a senior official said.

Li will pay an official visit to Russia from Monday to Sept 18 and attend the 24th China-Russia Prime Ministers' Regular Meeting, the Foreign Ministry announced on Monday.

This year's meeting marks the first of its kind since China-Russia ties were upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era in June. The meeting will play an important and positive role in delivering new outcomes in bilateral cooperation, said Le Yucheng, vice-foreign minister. Le spoke at a briefing on Monday.

This year is the 70th anniversary of the two countries' establishment of diplomatic ties. Faced with shifting dynamics in the international community and headwinds countering economic globalization, China and Russia will voice their common stance in upholding multilateralism and supporting trade liberalization and investment facilitation, Le said.

Li will have talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in St. Petersburg, where the two leaders will witness the signing of a number of cooperation documents including agriculture, energy, aviation, finance and technical innovation. The two countries are expected to issue a joint communique after the meeting, he said.

Li will also meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the visit, Le said.

The two nations are expected to agree on a statement about the road map to raising bilateral trade volume to $200 billion by 2024, a goal jointly set by President Xi Jinping and Putin, Le said.

Last year, two-way trade between China and Russia hit a record high of $107.1 billion, up by 27.1 percent year-on-year. From January to July of this year, two-way trade reached $61.13 billion, up by 4.7 percent year on year, Le said.

Le said that both countries have recently voiced their common stance on certain Western countries interfering with the domestic affairs of China and Russia. He said that both China and Russia strongly reject such interference, are resolved to implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, and will consolidate their mutually supporting strategic relations of cooperation and protection of common interests of both sides.

China and Russia are willing to maintain close communication and coordination, and are ready to work with the international community in promoting the establishment of a new type of international relations that will overpower unilateralism and bullying with mutual respect and cooperation, Le said.