Chinese President Xi Jinping hailed fruitful achievements in energy cooperation between China and Russia in recent years on Thursday, calling on the two sides to jointly promote their collaboration to a new level.

In a congratulatory letter to the Chinese-Russian Energy Business Forum, President Xi said China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is running at a high level at present with cooperation in various fields developing steadily.

Xi stressed that hosting the forum is an important consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, and building a platform for direct dialogue and exchanges between enterprises of both sides is the purpose of the forum.

He hoped that participants will have in-depth communication on the theme of "further deepening China-Russia all-round cooperation in energy trade, investment and finance."

Russian President Vladimir Putin also sent a congratulatory letter to the forum. The president said that the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between the two countries is steadily improving.

Energy cooperation is an important part of Russia-China relations, he added, saying the agenda of the forum is rich and informative, covering cooperation in oil and gas, coal, electricity, investment, scientific research and environmental protection.

He noted that energy companies of the two countries share broad common interests, and both sides will conduct rich and constructive dialogue and explore new models of mutually beneficial cooperation.

The first Chinese-Russian Energy Business Forum took place in Beijing on Thursday, drawing about 300 representatives from 90 Chinese and Russian energy companies. The forum will be held in Russia next year.

(Cover: The Chinese-Russian Energy Business Forum is held in Beijing, November 29, 2018. /VCG Photo)