Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui speaks at an economic forum in Moscow, Russia, September 18, 2017. (Xinhua/Wu Zhuang)

The China-Russia relationship is the epitome of successful "major country diplomacy" with Chinese characteristics, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Li Hui said Friday.

In his article published in Izvestia, a Russian newspaper, Li said China-Russia relations have been operating at a high level since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012.

Li said bilateral ties have been advancing in line with Chinese President Xi Jinping's "neighborhood diplomacy" featuring amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the construction of a new model of major-country relationship.

In the past five years, Xi has visited Russia six times and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin more than 20 times on various occasions to map out and lead the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination, Li said.

Pragmatic cooperation between China and Russia has been deepened to implement the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by Xi, the ambassador said.

In May 2015, Xi and Putin signed a joint declaration on the connection of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union, injecting new impetus into the further development of bilateral ties, Li said.

Li said China and Russia have been closely working together in international affairs and playing the role of a "ballast stone" in safeguarding global peace and stability.

The two countries have gained support and recognition worldwide by seeking a new type of international relations with win-win cooperation as its core and abandoning the obsolete mindset of alignment, confrontation and zero-sum game.

Li said he believes that China-Russia relations, guided by Xi's diplomatic ideas, will steadily advance to a higher level in the future.