China, Russia should work to settle hotspot issues: President Xi

BEIJING, March 25 -- China and Russia should strengthen communication and coordination in international and regional affairs to promote the political settlement of major hotspot issues, President Xi Jinping said on Friday.

"China-Russia strategic cooperation plays a key role in safeguarding peace and stability in the region and the world at large," Xi said when meeting with Russian Presidential Administration chief Sergei Ivanov.

China and Russia are each other's most important partners and developing a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership is the mutual choice of both countries, Xi said.

He called on both countries to take the 15th anniversary of the China-Russia Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation as an opportunity to carry forward friendly bilateral cooperation.

In July 2001, China and Russia signed the Treaty of Good Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation, laying a strong legal foundation for the two countries to develop a strategic partnership.

Xi said both sides should maintain close high-level exchanges and deepen practical cooperation in major areas by synergizing each other's development strategies.

Xi stressed he and Russian President Vladimir Putin support the General Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Russian Presidential Administration in holding exchanges, cooperation and learning from each other.

"This is an important display of our high-level mutual trust," Xi said.

Ivanov said close high-level exchanges guide the development of bilateral relations, and the two countries have maintained rapid development in cooperation in various fields and close communication and coordination in international affairs.

Ivanov said the Russian Presidential Administration is willing to work with the General Office of the CPC Central Committee to implement the consensus reached between the two heads of state and contribute to the bilateral relationship.

Wang Qishan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, also met with Ivanov on Friday.

China's anti-corruption drive and the strict discipline of the CPC will continue, said Wang, secretary of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection. "Comprehensive reform and institution building will be carried out to eliminate the soil that breeds corruption."

Ivanov said Russia attaches great importance to anti-corruption exchanges and cooperation with China.

Li Zhanshu, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and director of the General Office of the CPC Central Committee, held talks with Ivanov on Thursday.