Premier Li: China ready to deepen cooperation with Russia to promote common development

China is ready to work with Russia to continue deepening cooperation in various fields and promote the common development of the two countries to better benefit the two peoples and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday.

Li made the remarks while meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is on a two-day state visit to China, in Beijing.

Li said China and Russia, while upholding the principles of non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, have developed bilateral relations and steadily advanced practical cooperation in various areas in recent years.

With booming people-to-people and local exchanges, the friendly social and public opinion foundation between the two countries has been increasingly consolidated, setting an example of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between major countries, he said.

China is ready to deepen cooperation between the building of the Belt and Road and the Eurasian Economic Union with Russia as well as collaborate with it to advance regional economic integration, he said, pledging to continue to improve trade liberalization and facilitation and deepen cooperation in the economy, trade, energy, connectivity and other fields.

He called on both sides to take the China-Russia Years of Culture as an opportunity and further advance cooperation in fields such as cultural tourism, sports, youth and medicine to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

For his part, Putin said Russia-China relations, based on mutual equality, mutual benefits and win-win results, are in line with the interests of the two countries and their peoples.

Saying bilateral relations have now reached their highest level, he vowed to further enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, energy, agriculture and infrastructure, run the Russia-China Years of Culture well, and deepen people-to-people exchanges to push the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era to a new stage.