Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin vowed to further improve ties between the two countries and strengthen cooperation in a variety of fields.

The two state leaders made the pledges in a joint press conference after witnessing the signing of a series of documents between Chinese and Russian officials in Russia's Vladivostok on Tuesday. 

President Putin first welcomed President Xi and the Chinese delegation that were invited to attend the fourth Eastern Economic Forum.

Putin confirmed that the two leaders exchanged views on several issues of common concern and agreed to conduct more strategic cooperation in areas such as the economy and trade.

Putin said he was excited about the cooperation between the two countries in the first half of this year, during which the bilateral trade volume reached 60 billion US dollars.

He expected the number to reach 100 billion US dollars by the end of the year, the Russian president added. 

Putin also stressed the importance of using both countries' currencies during bilateral trade activities, saying this will strengthen the currencies of both countries.

Putin said the two sides signed contracts concerning oil and natural gas, emphasizing that Russia will continue to export natural gas to China. 

Putin added that Russia is willing to increase its exports to the provincial level in China. 

He spoke highly of the cooperation between Russia's far east and China's northeastern region, saying it has set a bench mark for bilateral cooperation. 

The Russian president also mentioned the importance and potential of enhanced cooperation with China in transportation, people-to-people exchanges and sports. 

On the Korean Peninsula, Putin promised to keep close communication with China and play a larger role in the issue.  

Calling Putin his "good friend," President Xi also confirmed that he and Putin exchanged views on regional and international issues and reached significant consensus. 

He said this is the third time he's met with Putin in four months, which showcases the high level and uniqueness of the relationship between the two countries.

He said bilateral ties have even more positive momentum this year.

He was pleased to see that the political closeness between the two countries has been transformed into tangible outcomes, Xi said. 

Xi pointed out that 2018 is the Year of China-Russia Local Cooperation and Exchange, saying that China and Russia should further cooperate at the local level. 

In addition, Xi called on Russia to closely coordinate with China under multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and BRICS.

He expressed China's willingness to push for the political settlement of hotspot issues with the international community, and China's opposition to unilateralism and trade protectionism. 

Xi also called for the creation of a new type of international relationship and a community with a shared future for mankind.