China to strengthen cooperation with Russia

HARBIN - Chinese Vice-Premier Wang Yang said on Tuesday that China and Russia should explore their full potential to cope with economic conditions and ensure bilateral trade growth.

Wang made the comment when meeting with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Rogozin, in China's northeastern city of Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang province. The two are respective chairmen of the Joint Commission for the Regular Meetings of Heads of Government of China and Russia.

China is willing to cooperate on projects with Russia in the nuclear sector, accelerate joint research on long-range, wide-body jets and heavy-duty helicopters, and speed up cross-border infrastructure construction, Wang said.

China will also support Chinese enterprises and financial institutions to increase investment in Russia and actively participate in the development of Russia's Far East, Wang said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Russia in March has promoted the two countries' strategic partnership of coordination and cooperation to a new stage, Wang said.

Wang said his meeting with Rogozin aims to further implement the consensus of the two heads of state, explore areas for pragmatic cooperation, and prepare for the meeting between the two heads of state at the G20 Summit in St. Petersburg, as well as at the 18th regular meeting between the two heads of government.

Rogozin said the meeting between the two heads of state in Moscow in March has added strong momentum to bilateral relations. Russia is willing to work with China to expand cooperation and strategic partnership, he said.

Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation to tackle flooding in the Heilong River Basin, which runs along the China-Russia border.