Chinese premier pledges closer cooperation with Russia in investment, energy, agriculture

MOSCOW - Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Monday that China stands ready to deepen cooperation with Russia in investment, energy, agriculture and other fields.

Li made the remarks in his talks with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, adding that the Chinese market welcomes more high-quality agricultural and food products from Russia.

Li said that not too long ago he and Mishustin held in Hangzhou, the capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, the 30th regular meeting of the Chinese and Russian heads of government, which focused on the implementation of the important consensus reached by Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The meeting, he said, also comprehensively reviewed the progress of China-Russia cooperation in various fields and made plans on key cooperation in the next stage.

China stands ready to work with Russia to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, further strengthen communication, continuously deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides, and create more benefits for the two peoples.

Li expressed the hope that the Russian side will provide more conveniences for Chinese enterprises to invest and operate in Russia.

He also urged both sides to continue to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen cooperation in areas such as culture, education and films, and infuse more humanistic warmth into China-Russia relations.

Noting that the Tianjin Summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) held in September achieved a series of fruitful results of milestone significance, Li said China is willing to maintain close coordination and collaboration with Russia to encourage all parties of the SCO to uphold the Shanghai Spirit and materialize the development blueprint outlined by leaders at an early date.

He urged to further advance pragmatic cooperation to bolster the development momentum of all member states, to continuously improve the institutional building of the SCO, to enhance its influence in international affairs, and to stand in solidarity with the vast number of Global South countries to promote an equitable and orderly multipolar world as well as a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

Mishustin said that currently, the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era is at an unprecedented high level.

Russia is willing to further intensify dialogue and exchanges with China at all levels, deepen cooperation in fields such as economy and trade, energy, agriculture, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges, create new growth points for cooperation, and continuously enhance good-neighborly friendship, he added.

Mishustin said Russia is willing to create a favorable business environment for Chinese enterprises investing in Russia. He expressed gratitude to China for its outstanding work during its presidency of the SCO, especially for the successful hosting of the Tianjin Summit.

Russia is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China, enhance the institutional building of the SCO, and make greater contributions to promoting peace, development and prosperity in the region and the world, Mishustin said.