Li stresses importance of Sino-Russian ties

Premier Li Qiang on Monday highlighted China's commitment to strengthening communication with Russia and deepening cooperation in various fields in order to better safeguard the countries' common development and security interests amid profound changes in the international situation.

Li made the remarks when he, together with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, co-chaired the 30th regular meeting between the Chinese and Russian heads of government in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang province.

Noting that China and Russia are good neighbors and partners who trust each other, Li said that the two countries' support for each other in holding grand events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the Soviet Union's Great Patriotic War as well as the World Anti-Fascist War, further deepened the Sino-Russian friendship.

China is willing to work with Russia to tighten mutual support, maintain close high-level exchanges, strengthen alignment of development strategies, and expand cooperation in various fields to advance the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era and continue joining hands on the path toward modernization, the premier said.

Mishustin extended his warm congratulations on the successful convening of the fourth plenary session of the 20th Communist Party of China Central Committee, expressing his confidence that China will make greater accomplishments in its future economic and social development.

He said the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era is currently at a historic high, and the mutual visits of the two heads of state this year demonstrate the countries' strong political mutual trust and deep friendship between the two peoples.

Russia is ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with China, expand cooperation in trade, investment, transportation, energy, agriculture, digital economy and cultural exchanges, organize the series of events for the Russia-China Year of Culture, and continuously enrich the connotation of bilateral relations, he said.

During the meeting, the two leaders heard reports from representatives of the committee for regular meetings between the Chinese and Russian heads of government, the China-Russia investment cooperation committee, the China-Russia energy cooperation committee, the China-Russia committee on humanities cooperation, and the intergovernmental commission for cooperation of Northeast China and the Far East of Russia.

Both sides agreed that strategic leadership by the heads of state is an important political guarantee for China-Russia relations and cooperation.

They underlined the need to prioritize the comprehensive implementation of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, optimize and expand cooperation mechanisms, stimulate the vitality of bilateral economic and trade relations, tourism, and economic integration and development in border cities.

Both sides agreed to increase investment in humanitarian cooperation and promote mutual visa-free policies to further facilitate people-to-people exchanges and deepen Sino-Russian friendship.

They also agreed to further strengthen the countries' coordination within multilateral frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, BRICS and the United Nations, and promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

After the meeting, the two leaders signed a joint communique of the 30th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government, and witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in areas such as customs and satellite navigation.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn