Chinese Premier Li Keqiang expresses willingness to maintain high-level exchanges, cooperation with Russia

This undated file photo shows the national flags of China and Russia on Red Square, Moscow. PHOTO XINHUA BEIJING - Chinese Premier Li Keqiang expressed on Wednesday China's willingness to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Russia and deepen the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination.

It came as Li co-chaired the 27th regular meeting of the premier and prime minister with his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin via video link.

As China and Russia enjoy traditional friendships, they have developed bilateral relations based on the principles of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of third parties, and have always been based on the principles of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of third parties, according to Li.

China is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with Russia, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, deepen the China-Russian strategic partnership of coordination, protect regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity, and bring more benefits to the two peoples, he said.

After listening to the work reports delivered by the two sides, Li and Mishustin appreciated the effective and pragmatic work done over the past year.

Li expressed the hopes that the two sides will make good use of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, steadily advance cooperation projects in key areas, and constantly improve the level of economic and trade cooperation, noting that the economies of China and Russia are highly complementary.

Li also called on the two sides to optimize the customs clearance process, jointly maintain a stable and smooth industrial and supply chain, deepen cultural, people-to-people and local exchanges, and consolidate the public opinion base for friendly relations between the two countries.

Under the current complicated international situation, the Russia-China comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination has maintained a sound development momentum and bilateral cooperation in various fields continues to move forward, according to Mishustin.

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Russia will work with China to give full role of the regular meeting mechanism between the Russian prime minister and Chinese premier, strengthen cooperation in key areas such as economy and trade, improve cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and consolidate the good-neighborly friendship between the two countries, Mishustin said.

Russia is ready to work with China to tackle global challenges and promote the development of a multi-polar world, according to Mishustin.