Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday sent congratulatory letters to the ninth meeting of the dialogue mechanism between the ruling parties of China and Russia, held via video link.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation as well as the 20th anniversary of the establishment of ties between the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the United Russia party, Xi noted. 

China and Russia have upheld principles of a new type of international relations and conducted close comprehensive strategic coordination over the past two decades, setting an example of relations between major countries, he said. 

Institutionalized exchanges between the two ruling parties have consolidated political and strategic mutual trust between China and Russia and promoted all-round cooperation that benefits both countries, he added. 

As the world enters a period of turbulence and changes, China and Russia should deepen comprehensive strategic coordination for a new era and play vital roles in safeguarding international fairness and justice, maintaining world peace and stability and promoting common development and prosperity, said the Chinese president. 

China and Russia decided to upgrade their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era in June 2019 during Xi's visit to Moscow. 

In his congratulatory letter, Putin noted that this year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC and the 20th anniversary of the founding of the United Russia party. Dialogue between the two parties has always been an important part of the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, he added. 

Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two parties have maintained all-round exchanges on both central and local levels, Putin said. 

He expressed the hope that representatives attending the meeting will make "constructive and fruitful" efforts to further consolidate the friendship and understanding between the two countries and their peoples.