BEIJING, Sept. 4 -- China and Russia pledged to strengthen cooperation in the fields of interconnectivity and intercommunication, according to a message from Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Friday.

Li sent congratulatory message to a forum for the principals from nearly 60 universities of China and Russia, the forum focused on the high-speed railway cooperation between the two countries.

In the message, Li said communication cooperation became a new highlight of bilateral cooperation, noting that infrastructure, interconnectivity and intercommunication is important to integrate the China-proposed Silk Road Economic Belt initiative and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union project.

In the message, Li expressed his hope that the universities of both countries will learn from each other and deepen the cooperation in personnel training, scientific research and other fields, so as to make new contribution to bilateral cooperation.

Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko and Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Dmitry Mezentsev also sent congratulatory messages to the forum.