Chinese premier calls for deeper, more substantive cooperation with Russia

China is ready to work with Russia to make sustained efforts to steer bilateral cooperation in a direction that is deeper, more substantive and more resilient, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said Tuesday upon his arrival in St. Petersburg.

Both sides will push the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era to yield new and fruitful results, he added.

Li arrived in the city at the invitation of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin to attend the 31st regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government.

The premier said this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.

Looking back on the journey China and Russia have taken together, the two countries have jointly explored a way of getting along, featuring non-alliance, non-confrontation and not targeting any third party, continuously deepened cooperation in various fields, and set a fine example of major-country relations featuring permanent good-neighborly friendship, comprehensive strategic coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation, Li said.

In particular, under the strategic guidance of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin in recent years, China-Russia relations have become more mature and resilient, with the foundation of political mutual trust growing ever stronger, mutually beneficial cooperation becoming increasingly solid, and the bonds of friendship from generation to generation growing ever closer, he said.

Noting that changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world, Li said the two heads of state have met twice this year, drawing a new blueprint for the development of bilateral relations.

The efforts made by both sides will bring greater benefits to the two peoples and inject valuable stability and certainty into world peace and development, he added.

Li arrived after concluding an official visit to Tajikistan and attending the 25th meeting of the Council of Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) of Member States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.