Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke highly of outgoing Russian Ambassador to China Andrey Denisov's contribution to their countries' friendship when they met in Beijing on Friday.

Wang said the Russian ambassador was "a good friend," "an old friend" and "a real friend" who had been in China for nearly a decade, promoting bilateral collaboration and defending international justice.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have continuously taken the strategic comprehensive cooperation forward, further strengthening the popular support for and the social basis of the friendship between the two countries, Wang said. The progress in cooperation was also the fruit of Denisov's efforts, he added.

Denisov said he had witnessed China's many great achievements and believed more will be made. Led by the leaders of the two countries, China-Russia relations have entered a new era, he said, adding that the two sides will continue their firm support for each other on issues related to both countries' core interests.