Li holds talks with Russian, Kazakh and Afghan leaders

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has held separate meetings with counterparts from Russia, Kazakhstan and Afghanistan to boost bilateral cooperation.

Li's meetings took place on the sidelines of the 16th meeting of the Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Heads of Government (Prime Ministers) in Sochi on Friday.

Li vows to elevate practical cooperation with Russia

In talks with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, the Chinese premier expressed a desire to upgrade and elevate China-Russia practical cooperation.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Sochi, Russia, December 1, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Li said that against the backdrop of the picking up of the world economy and trade, China and Russia should seize the opportunity to promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment.

The two countries should continue to promote cooperation in major strategic projects on energy, investment, aviation and aerospace, further expand cooperation in science and technological innovation, and activate cooperation potentials between small and medium-sized enterprises and in local areas, said Li.

"We should maintain the platform role of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and provide wisdom and contributions to building a community of shared future for mankind in the region and promoting openness and inclusiveness in the world," he said.

Medvedev said the two countries enjoy a high-level partnership and Russia will work with China to promote bilateral ties.

China, Kazakhstan agree to enhance pragmatic cooperation

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of China-Kazakhstan diplomatic ties, and it is also another year of good harvest for relations between the two nations, Li said at a meeting with his Kazakh counterpart, Bakytzhan Sagintayev.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets his Kazakh counterpart, Bakytzhan Sagintayev in Sochi, Russia, December 1, 2017. /Photo via Gov.cn

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan in trade and green agriculture, Li said, calling on the Kazakh side to make it more convenient to travel between the two countries so as to facilitate cooperation between enterprises of the two countries.

For his part, Sagintayev spoke highly of the two countries' production capacity cooperation, saying it plays an exemplary role in Kazakhstan-China economic ties and injects strong impetus into the bilateral relations.

The first forum on Kazakhstan-China local cooperation, which was successfully held in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in September, has expanded bilateral cooperation to new areas, he said.

Kazakhstan is willing to implement the important consensuses reached by the two countries' leaders and create favorable conditions for further Kazakhstan-China production capacity cooperation, so as to promote all-round practical cooperation between the two countries, Sagintayev said.

China ready to play constructive role in Afghanistan's reconstruction

During a meeting with Afghan government chief executive Abdullah Abdullah, Premier Li said Friday that China is willing to play a constructive role in Afghanistan's peaceful reconstruction.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang greets Afghan government chief executive Abdullah Abdullah in Sochi, Russia, December 1, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Expanding pragmatic cooperation between China and Afghanistan on economic and trade matters cannot be done without a safe and stable external environment, said Li, adding that China will enhance dialogue and cooperation with Afghanistan and Pakistan with the goal of achieving long-term regional stability and security at an early date.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets Afghan government chief executive Abdullah Abdullah in Sochi, Russia, December 1, 2017. /Xinhua Photo

Abdullah said his government appreciates China's efforts to promote the reconciliation process in Afghanistan, as well as its positive role in promoting the country's economic reconstruction, capacity-building and improvement in living standards and its assistance within multilateral frameworks.

Afghanistan is ready to make joint efforts with China to take Afghanistan-China relations to a new height, he said.

(With inputs from Xinhua)

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