China's top diplomat meets Russian presidential aide, Maritime Board chairman

China's top diplomat Wang Yi met with Russian presidential aide and chairman of the Maritime Board Nikolai Patrushev in Beijing on Monday.

Conveying President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to President Vladimir Putin, Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, said close communication between the two heads of state had led bilateral relations to a higher quality and a higher level.

Under the guidance of the two heads of state, strategic mutual trust between China and Russia has become stronger, cooperation in various fields has become more resilient and multilateral coordination has been strengthened, Wang said.

Wang noted that China and Russia both shoulder important responsibilities in international maritime affairs and have broad prospects for cooperation, adding that China stands ready to work with Russia to better align their maritime strategies.

Wang congratulated Russia on its State Duma election last month, noting that the results fully demonstrated the common will of the Russian people.

Patrushev conveyed President Putin's sincere greetings to President Xi, adding that maintaining close exchanges between the two heads of state is the best guarantee for the development of bilateral relations.

Russia is willing to enhance cooperation with China in areas such as multilateral maritime governance, draw on China's experience in shipbuilding, logistics, maritime trade and other fields, and join hands with China to promote the building of a maritime community with a shared future, adding a new dimension to comprehensive strategic coordination between Russia and China, Patrushev said.