Xi stresses relationship with Russia

President Xi Jinping stressed China’s commitment to developing and deepening relations with Russia during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev yesterday.

Xi said China is ready to work with Russia to expand cooperation in various fields, maintain close coordination in international affairs and promote the building of a community of a shared future.

Xi said he believed the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between China and Russia would generate new opportunities and achieve new results.

He said China and Russia should give full play to the prime ministers’ regular meetings and enhance cooperation on energy, equipment manufacturing, agriculture and aerospace.

He called on both sides to increase the content of technological innovation in their cooperation and integrate the Belt and Road initiative with the Eurasian Economic Union. China and Russia should cooperate in the development and utilization of the Arctic navigation channels to create a “Silk Road on the ice,” Xi said.

Xi said China and Russia have achieved many results in education, tourism and media cooperation, which consolidated public support for bilateral ties.

Medvedev conveyed greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to President Xi and congratulated him on the success of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and his re-election as general secretary of the Party’s Central Committee.

The congress charted a blueprint for China’s future development and carried great significance to both China and the world, said Medvedev.

Since Xi’s visit to Russia in July, the two countries have been making progress in cooperation on economy, energy, investment, innovation, people-to-people exchanges and other fields, he said.