Chinese President Xi Jinping called for closer ties between China and Russia against the backdrop of increasing Western interference in the two countries' internal affairs. 

Xi made the remarks on Monday when meeting with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev, who is in Beijing to attend the sixth meeting between China and Russia on institutional cooperation in law enforcement and security and the 15th round of China-Russia strategic security consultation. 

This year China and Russia celebrated the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Xi said, adding that bilateral ties have entered a new era. 

Facing a complex and changing international situation, China and Russia should stand together more closely, always be each other's sincere and reliable strategic partner, and give each other firm and strong strategic support, he stressed. 

The United States and other Western countries have increased interference in China's and Russia's internal affairs since the start of the year, posing threats to the two countries' sovereignty and security and hindering their economic and social development, said the Chinese president. 

Noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin recently said the U.S. is utterly wrong when trying to contain China and Russia, Xi said China completely agrees with Putin's comments. 

"I firmly believe that no force can stop the Chinese people and nation from marching forward," Xi told Patrushev. "The Russian people will not be affected by external interference either and will continue to follow its own development path as well." 

Xi called on the two sides to strengthen strategic and security communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, safeguard their respective core interests and common security, and maintain peace and stability in the region and the world. 

Patrushev hailed that bilateral cooperation in various fields has reached unprecedented levels, stressing that Russia-China relations are "unbreakable." 

A range of U.S. policies not only harm interests of Russia and China, but also poses negative impacts to the international system and order, he said. 

Russia and China share the same or similar stances on many major international issues, he added, calling for closer coordination between the two sides to protect their respective sovereignty and security and maintain international strategic stability.

(Cover: Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, December 2, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)