Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao attended the Russia Day reception at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Beijing on Wednesday.

Li hailed Russia's development, expressed support for the country as always, and noted that the Shanghai meeting between presidents Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin in May brought bilateral strategic ties to a new level.

China is willing to work with Russia to implement the consensus of the two heads of state to better promote the two countries' common development, better benefit the two peoples, and better safeguard regional and world peace and stability, Li said.

Russian Ambassador Andrey Denisov said the two countries strengthened bilateral relations during the last year, with their trade and economic relationship developing quickly and the two sides proactively involved in bilateral investment projects.

He expressed the hope that the Russia-China Youth Friendly Exchanges Years in 2014 and 2015 continue to strengthen the two countries' traditional friendship.

Russia Day, on June 12, marks the date when the First Congress of People's Deputies of the Russian Federation adopted the Declaration of Russia's National Sovereignty in 1990.