China, Russia vow to boost trade ties

MOSCOW, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev pledged to promote trade ties between the two countries during their meeting here Saturday.

In recent years, the China-Russia relationship has withstood the tests of changing international circumstances and made substantial progress, Xi said, adding that there is a greater need now for the two nations to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination as the world has seen continuous profound changes.

Xi said that China and Russia have worked closely to stave off the adverse effects of the global financial crisis and expanded their trade and economic ties despite unfavorable conditions.

The two nations have also made breakthroughs in their energy and resources cooperation, demonstrating that the two economies are highly complementary to each other, share broad common interests and boast of bright prospects for cooperation, he added.

The Chinese president urged the two nations to strengthen their coordination in accelerating the implementation of cooperation agreements in oil, natural gas, as well as nuclear and coal power, and do a good job in making plans for cooperation in high-technology, aerospace, and cross-border infrastructure.

He also called on the two sides to expand mutual investment, focus on a number of strategic big projects, and promote joint research, development and production.

Medvedev said the relationship between the two countries is at its best in history and the bilateral strategic partnership has enjoyed good development.

The Russian side believed that Xi's visit is fruitful, and will further deepen bilateral strategic coordination, and inject fresh impetus into the long-term development of Russia-China relations, he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) meets with Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow, capital of Russia, March 23, 2013. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)
He also pledged that Russia will work with China to make full use of the regular meeting mechanism between the two nations' prime ministers, implement the important consensus and agreements reached by the two presidents, boost bilateral trade ties and enhance industrial cooperation to increase their economic prowess.

Currently, the global economic situation is still complex and volatile, and the two sides should work closely within multilateral and bilateral frameworks to advance reforms of the international financial and monetary systems so as to promote the long-term steady and sustainable development of the global economy, he said.

President Xi arrived in Moscow on Friday for a state visit to Russia, the first leg of his maiden foreign trip since he took office last week.

Also on Saturday, Xi Jinping met Chairman of Russia's State Duma Sergei Naryshkin and Chairwoman of Russia's Federation Council Valentina Matvienko.

The Chinese president on Friday held talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, and attended, together with Putin, the opening ceremony of the "Tourism Year of China" in Russia.